This week I finished the machine quilting on my chintz panel medallion quilt, added a blue ombre stripe binding and popped it in the machine for a gentle, cold wash. And my thoughts as I saw it emerging from the machine at the end of the wash?
"oh no ...the chintz!" - the lovely chintz centre panel has lost much of its colour - so sad! The rest of the fabrics are as fresh as ever - only the chintz suffered.Here is the quilt finished and washed :
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| Finished at 186cm square (73 inches) |
But , to be philosophical, the chintz has now lost its "youthful bloom" but it is still a pretty piece of fabric and has a vintage look that deserves to be loved. So here are more photos.
This is the panel at the time of pin basting - bright and beautiful before the wash:
Thankfully the colour catchers grabbed all the lost colour so it didn't end up streaky.
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| Colour catchers after the wash |
To fill you in on the quilting:
I deliberated for ages on how to quilt that centre panel and even made a pattern sheet to practise sketching possible quilting patterns.
I did toy with feathers in the cream ring but the variable width of the cream area made it a challenge to fit neatly and I didn't like the look of it. I decided to go with something different - shapes to echo the applique shapes in one of the borders. Other quilting on the panel is some background stippling, a 1" grid and a wreath.
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| After washing |
The quilting on the borders includes a clam shell filler, a wreath, outlining, and straight stitching.
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| Quilting on the borders |
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| A view of the backing |
(Just in case you ask - I have contacted the retailer where I bought the chintz panel and they have been quick to reply and sympathetic but have not heard of this problem before.)
Here is Benjamin Biggs Block 5 completed.
Have a lovely weekend
These panels aren't cheap. Are they replacing it with another? Your quilt is wonderful such a pity this happened.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to see that happen to you - I have never seen fabric fade as much as that one did and after all your hard work - I hope you will use the quilt anyhow - it is still beautiful
ReplyDeleteOh I do feel for you. So much beautiful work, it's such a shame the panel ran. Maybe you could add a little embroidery embellishment to add some depth.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful - maybe you could use some crayons or fabric paint to add some color back in! A new hobby, maybe? Loved seeing your lily quilt in Quiltmania - 100th issue - how wonderful to see it there and a testament to your lovely quilting!
ReplyDeleteOh man, that is a shame about the colors fading on the center panel. You put soooo much work into it, your beautiful applique, etc. It's still a pretty quilt though.
ReplyDeleteOh Hilda - what a huge disappointment!! I can't imagine how shocking that was. Your quilting is so very beautiful and the quilt is lovely even with the panel faded. I hope you will be able to enjoy it. Your picture of it out in your yard is so pretty. Your BB block looks great!
ReplyDeleteIt's still beautiful Hilda, I love It and think you should make and sell the pattern.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame it ran, but it's still beautiful.
Xox
Wonderful work. Shame about the chintz, but it is still lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you are being philosophical about it.
Cannot imagine how you felt when removing the gorgeous quilt from the washer...this occurence is something new to me also - beyond a simple fading. It is as though the inks were not properly set or the chintz glaze finish reacted. Is that a John Hewson reproduction panel? Good that you contacted the manufacturer. Your Benjamin Biggs blocks are lovely. I am using a red chintz-like fabric (Moda) for my own blocks and prewashed all the fabric - the nice chintz sheen washed out completely. Still like it and the color stayed true but would have liked the sheen too.
ReplyDeleteOh my--you must have been heartsick to find all that color washed out! It's still a beautiful quilt.
ReplyDeleteHow heart-breaking! I seem to recall that you tea dyed a panel to soften the whiteness. I am assuming it wasn't this one. Oh well, it is still a beautiful quilt and it now has a story all its own!
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful quilt and it is still a beautiful quilt,
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ReplyDeleteThat right there is one reason I ALWAYS pre-wash my fabric.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. Is there any chance you could take colored Pigma pens and put some detail back in? I've used them before on labels, etc and they used to have a lot of colors. It's still such a beauty.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I'm sorry the chintz faded so terribly. What a shock. Now your beautiful quilt has a new chapter, but it's still a beautiful one. I appreciate you sharing what happened.
ReplyDeleteHilda, I can't believe it! After all your hard work, what a huge disappointment.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a Hewson panel can you email me and let me know as I have quite a bit of it in my stash but your one is not one i recognise.
It's still a beautiful quilt with its own story to tell now.
This is still such a beautiful quilt!! As you say now the center has a vintage look. Sometimes quilts just have a mind of their own of how they want to look. I hope the retailer lets the manufacturer know. I think sometimes they rely on the fact a lot of people dont pre wash these days.
ReplyDeleteOh No! Lovely quilt still, great job! I have a chintz too, that I have not used in a quilt yet. I planned to use it in the center much like you have.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about your quilt. It is still very beautiful! I am so glad you shared it with us !
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to see the result of washing this fabric. The manufacturer should at the very least offer a replacement piece. The quilt is still so beautiful and like many of the other commenters, I wonder if Pigma pens might be a possible way to add back a bit of the color.
ReplyDeleteOh Hilda, how devastating! It is still such a beautiful quilt and I'm so glad you didn't hide it away. I admire your courage and philosophical outlook. As others have suggested, using pens to add definition could help - did you see my recent post ( WOW Wednesday) where I inked a bird? Love your BB block.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame that chintz faded so! I understand your disappointment.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is still an amazing piece of art work! And your hand quilting looks exquisite.
Very pretty Ben Biggs block too!
What a shock, I'm so glad you mentioned it here, maybe others who have bought the same panel will appreciate it. It's a beautiful quilt and your quilting looks wonderful. Loved seeing your applique block too.
ReplyDeleteI have so much enjoyed your journey as you have made this quilt step by step. Your color choices were "right on" and the clamshell corners were so ambitions. I loved the progress of the applique and the fabric choices. I agree with the person who suggested embroidery to outline the flowers and accent them. But, even if you do nothing, it's a wonderful quilt and one to be proud of. And your courage to share has changed the quilting community's outlook forever.
ReplyDeleteOh NO, that is to bad. I am glad you are still showing it and keeping it out.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a shame that this has happened, but as everyone else has said, the quilt is beautiful and you have done a fantastic job of it. You should be very proud.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so sorry that the fading happened. The colors in it were so perfect for the quilt and then to have it fade like that. I guess that is why we should always prewash, something I don't always do. But your right it looks vintage now so I hope you can still enjoy the quilt.
ReplyDeleteA friend alerted me to this post and I wanted to say how disappointed I am for you. I usually wash my fabric as soon as it comes home from the shop with the exception of my panel which is still in it's box. I wasn't sure how it should be treated but it's getting a wash now and I'll be fully prepared for what might happen. Thank you. I join everyone else in saying your quilt is amazing ... a faded beauty ... but truly amazing!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful quilt, thank you for sharing it with us. I would love to see it 'in the flesh' with all those beautiful fabrics and your lovely quilting.
ReplyDeleteIt is still a lovely quilt. I agree with the girls suggesting tinting. I checked my panels and the instructions say hand wash with a ph neutral soap. This particular line of panels may not be ideal for a quilt for machine washing
ReplyDeleteHilda, I am so sorry! It will make for an interesting conversation piece though.
ReplyDeleteDear Hilda...I'm French and I often read your blog. I'm so sorry for your chintz...but be sure that your quilt is still wonderful.
ReplyDeleteCécile from Patchwork Inspirations.
How odd they never heard of the chintz fading before, as if your water is more capable than any other water to fade fabric? I feel for you, especially with all the hard work you put into it. But it does look antique-y which has a certain charm. If the other fabrics faded as well it would look like a vintage antique! Is it possible or worth it to paint the chintz with fabric paint?
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember a recent warning from either Petra Pinns or Den Haan n Wagenmakers that there have been some copies of their chintz made that are known to b of lesser quality and fade quickly. Also these suppliers have contravened copyright. Not sure if that is yr piece but hope info helps and warns others on inferior chintz. There was a statement that these were coming from suppliers in The States but guess any can b at risk. Still , like everyone else, adore the quilt
ReplyDeleteOhh my, you must have been devastated when you pulled your quilt out of the machine. I feel for you!!
ReplyDeleteYour quilting is magnificent!!! Congratulations on more beautiful work!!!
the quilt is still BEAUTIFUL as always I admire your work….
ReplyDeletetreasure the quilt.
Kathie