Saturday 24 May 2014

A finish, a wash and "oh no...the chintz!"

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 :

Finished at 186cm square (73 inches)
My first thought (coward at heart) was to hide it away never to be mentioned on the blog again! 
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. 
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.

After washing 
The quilting on the borders includes a clam shell filler, a wreath, outlining, and straight stitching. 
Quilting on the borders 


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

37 comments:

  1. These panels aren't cheap. Are they replacing it with another? Your quilt is wonderful such a pity this happened.

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  2. I'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

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  3. Oh 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.

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  4. Your 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!

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  5. Oh 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.

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  6. Oh 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!

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  7. It's still beautiful Hilda, I love It and think you should make and sell the pattern.
    Such a shame it ran, but it's still beautiful.
    Xox

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  8. Wonderful work. Shame about the chintz, but it is still lovely.
    It sounds as if you are being philosophical about it.

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  9. 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.

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  10. Oh my--you must have been heartsick to find all that color washed out! It's still a beautiful quilt.

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  11. How 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!

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  12. It is a beautiful quilt and it is still a beautiful quilt,

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  14. That right there is one reason I ALWAYS pre-wash my fabric.

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  15. I 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.

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  16. Like 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.

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  17. Hilda, I can't believe it! After all your hard work, what a huge disappointment.
    If 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.

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  18. 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.

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  19. Oh 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.

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  20. I am so sorry about your quilt. It is still very beautiful! I am so glad you shared it with us !

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  21. So 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.

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  22. Oh 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.

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  23. Such a shame that chintz faded so! I understand your disappointment.
    Your quilt is still an amazing piece of art work! And your hand quilting looks exquisite.
    Very pretty Ben Biggs block too!

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  24. 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.

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  25. I 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.

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  26. Oh NO, that is to bad. I am glad you are still showing it and keeping it out.

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  27. It 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.

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  28. Oh, 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.

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  29. A 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!!

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  30. It 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.

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  31. It 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

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  32. Hilda, I am so sorry! It will make for an interesting conversation piece though.

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  33. Dear 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.
    Cécile from Patchwork Inspirations.

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  34. 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?

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  35. I 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

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  36. Ohh my, you must have been devastated when you pulled your quilt out of the machine. I feel for you!!

    Your quilting is magnificent!!! Congratulations on more beautiful work!!!

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  37. the quilt is still BEAUTIFUL as always I admire your work….
    treasure the quilt.
    Kathie

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