Thimbleanna » My Washer is Possessed

My Washer is Possessed

April 10, 2011 on 10:08 am | In Quilting | 37 Comments

It’s a beautiful weekend here in ThimbleannaLand. I spent a little time working on my Bliss quilt yesterday. I’m pretty happy we didn’t get rid of the ping pong table when the boys grew up and left home. I’d rather have a basement full of noisy boys making a mess of things, but at least the table knows it’s still well-loved.

All was not sweetness and light yesterday though. As you may know, I’m a pre-shrinker. I ran out of pre-shrunk solid red fabric, so I threw another piece into the washer. Lookie what happened! (Warning: Objects in mirror picture are closer redder than they appear.)

Can you see the difference? I washed the fabric all by itself, but it came out of the washer with some blue added and now it’s a little wine-y looking. ??? So, now I’m afraid of my washer. Something’s in there. Maybe I should call Quiltbusters.

And totally unrelated, yesterday I was blog surfing and saw a little embroidered bunny which made me think of a little Fat Bunny I embroidered for MeMum years ago. About thirty minutes later, I came across Wendy’s cute Fat Bunny, which I thought was funny, so I took a picture of MeMum’s well-loved Fat Bunny.

I put him into a simple one-patch quilt (made just like Isabelle’s quilt) nestled among 30′s repro flannels. Big one-patches (these are about six-inches) are really fun to make — especially with a little embroidery thrown into the mix.

Now I’m off to pick up sticks in the yard — it’s going to be ridiculously warm here today. I hope you’re having a good weekend!

XOXO,
Anna

37 Comments

How strange that your fabric changed colour like that! When we lived in Indonesia, our whites acquired a yellow tinge – but that was the horrible water (don’t worry, we didn’t drink it!!) I love the fat bunny! We have had fabulous weather this weekend – perfect timimng for Stuart and Alison’s visit. (I asked him for a photo of him wearing his kilt, but he didn’t have one on hos laptop …. I will need to remind him to look in his archive!)

Comment by frayedattheedge — April 10, 2011 #
Your fat bunny looks so comfortable with the 30′s fabrics. He’s been around for a while before I made the little wallhanging, maybe a quilt would have been better.

Comment by wendy — April 10, 2011 #
Very strange about the fabric. I’m not a pre-shrinker so I’ll just cross my fingers that my red never turns wine-y when I wash a completely finished quilt… dum dum dum.

Ha – very funny about the bunny. It is a cute one, for sure, both your version and Wendy’s.

By the way, how’s your Irish Chain coming along? Mine is still awaiting basting and quilting. I’ve started another project (OH NO!).

Comment by Rachel — April 10, 2011 #
That is very strange about the fabric..good luck with your washer! I love the Bliss blocks…makes me want to get out my Bliss scraps and cut them up into little squares!

Comment by Sherri — April 10, 2011 #
i once found an ink cartridge in my washing machine filter…. luckily it hadn’t burst… but it was a close call!!

Comment by monica — April 10, 2011 #
Yikes! What are you going to do about that red? I’m in love with all your little itty bitty squares, though!

Comment by Kristyne — April 10, 2011 #
I am singing the Twilight Zone music – better be careful with that washer!

It has been gorgeous here this weekend. We even had a barbecue as it was too hot to roast the leg of lamb I’d bought – and then we toasted marshmallows for pudding. Yum!

Comment by dottycookie — April 10, 2011 #
Lovely weekend here, youngest daughter’s baby shower yesterday. So much fun and she had dear friends come in from cross country so it was lovely to see everyone. her husband came to pick up stuff and was blown away by all the stuff…lol, does he have a rude awakening coming! (Can’t wait to see what you doing with the Bliss..looks like those little squares are finishing at 1/2in? wow!)

Comment by Mary ann — April 10, 2011 #
remember scented markers? (do they still make them?) i couldn’t figure out why my jeans came outta the washer smelling like oranges – and then i found the big orange marker spots that matched the scent … i do not like surprises (no, not even PLEASANT surprises) and i am a pre-shrinker, too. i am also a pre-maker of test blocks … and i measure twice before i cut wrong once

what a sweet bunny – and the quilt for Isabelle is absolutely lovely!

Comment by dianne — April 10, 2011 #
Oh man, are you screwed on the red. ;0 Was it a Kona red or a Moda Bella red? Not that it matters. Just curious.

BTW, QuiltBusters went out of business…a giant Pillsbury Dough Boy ate their equipment..

Yep, it is a beautiful sunny day here. I can’t keep up with these drastic weather changes…

Comment by ina — April 10, 2011 #
Bugger about the magic colour-changing red. Perhaps you could find one of those Magic Markers that looks one colour but draws a different one?

Salad for dinner. Viola planting afterwards. Perfect end to the day.

Comment by trash — April 10, 2011 #
love the little bliss squares…. i’m cleaning out the red room (my stuff)and am going to put a full size bed in there…hmmmm. red…bed… nevermind. it’s amazing to see how much stuff we can accumulate from the craft world. jewelry making supplies, beads, some stamping supplies (never used), bead loom, weaving loom, fabric stash, embroidery supplies, yarn STASH, and all the tools, kits, books, & notions to go with all. greedy me! I am SO purging at my DIL’s garage sale. People are going to love it. And i will have more space. How do I figure out what yarn to let go – anything that doesn’t speak to me. I can’t give the stuff away, but I do want it gone. Guests are such a good reason to purge and clean. Miss seeing and talking to you- good weather is better time to meet up….hint hint.
Hope you find some of the right color red – was there anyones butt you could kick for the bad dye job – probably not, but that’s what i would feel like doing. When you’re on a roll, you want it to keep…rolling. Hope you are well, take care.
Any big vacations this summer? always, robin

Comment by Robin — April 10, 2011 #
What a bummer!!!

Comment by Jen — April 10, 2011 #
Holy crow…what happened to that fabric?? What a bummer.

Comment by Dandelion Quilts — April 10, 2011 #
Oh I love the fabric and color combo you are using!!! Clarice

Comment by clarice — April 10, 2011 #
Ooh your quilt is looking lovely. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I’m sorry about your red fabric, though :\ I would love warm but today we have cool and windy.

Comment by Karen — April 10, 2011 #
Are you sure it’s your washing machine? Or could it be the detergent or the fabric? I wash almost everything new or old with the Shout color catchers. I am not a pre-washer usually and so when I wash a quilt for the first time, I use Synthrapol and 2 or 3 of the color catchers and (knock on wood) I’ve never had anything like what you experienced. If it is fabric you want to try to save, have you thought about re-washing it with Synthrapol? The color shift, though is something a little distressing. Do you mind saying what fabric it is?

Comment by Anne — April 10, 2011 #
I always wash my fabric but I’ve never had thqt happen, it’s a worry because now do you use it?

Comment by Janet — April 11, 2011 #
I never prewash my fabrics, at least not any more. I’m pretty sure that it is a manufacturing fault as that really shouldn’t happen. There wasn’t a blue sock lurking at the bottom of the machine, was there? What rotten luck ;(.

Comment by Vreni — April 11, 2011 #
Oh no, I like to pre-wash too, but have never had this happen. Usually reds are the worst for fading, but not quite that blue color. Did you use a blue fabric softener perhaps?
That bunny is very sweet!

Comment by Kim D. — April 11, 2011 #
We’ve had a very warm weekend here…it been fabulous and even if it gets cooler again it will still feel like a long summer because psychologically it has already started!

Cant believe your red came out a strange colour..has your machine been eating blue socks?

Comment by Sew Create It - Jane — April 11, 2011 #
ah yes…ridiculously warm and WINDY! i chose yesterday as the perfect time for my first bike ride to my dads house (about 7 miles i think) im glad i did it…but quite sore today!

Comment by jenny — April 11, 2011 #
Much as I love your embroidered bunny I’m totally in awe of all those tiny little pieced squares! Have fun in the yard.

Comment by Gina — April 11, 2011 #
anna,
oooh, i *love* seeing your quilt coming together!
how very strange what your washing machine did with the red fabric…hmmm…maybe there is a black/blue sock hidden somewhere in the machine that bleeds now? the washing machine monster that doesn’t like red? did you enrage the goods of the colors by not choosing blue?
i hope you’ll sort this problem out soon. too bad that it happened!
xo,
julia
…who finally has some time for blog-hopping again :)

Comment by Julia — April 11, 2011 #
I keep peeking to see if you have creted a new Blog Header yet. I just love to see what you do with the thimbles! The child in me!!

Love, love your quilt squares and all the tiny squares that make up each one. I’d be done and prone on he floor after one square. Just give me paintbrush.

Sorry about your faded red fabric. “Don’t cry little shop girl”. ( from ~You’ve Got Mail)

Comment by jonipossin — April 11, 2011 #
Oh man, so sorry to hear about that fabric. I would be mad! I adore that cute bunny, but what I adore even more is that square made up of tiny little squares in your first photo. I don’t why I love that, but I do. It looks so simple, yet I know how time consuming it is putting little squares like that together…and I love the colors. There is a lot of love going on in this comment :)

Comment by raina — April 11, 2011 #
Oh, that’s awful how your fabric changed color (maybe there is a smurf living in your washer. :) ) I don’t usually pre-wash, but now I’m re-thinking that. It would be much better to have something like that happen before sewing it into a quilt. :)

Your quilt blocks are looking wonderful though! Can’t wait to see the finished project. :)

Comment by Doni — April 12, 2011 #
This is why I always prewash…despite being mocked by some peers! (I can take it.) That was quite the transformation.

Comment by Jan — April 12, 2011 #
preshrinking fabric is evil.
that’s why it turned blue.
glad you finally found out though.
’bout time.

Comment by brigita — April 13, 2011 #
That must be really annoying to have the fabric come out a different shade to the original one. Did you maybe wash it on a hotter setting than before?

Comment by Rowan — April 13, 2011 #
That fat bunny in the tulip patch is adorable. Sounds like you definitely need to call an exorcist for your washer … does it eat socks, too?

:o)

Comment by Stacy — April 13, 2011 #
Isn’t there a special fabric sheet that you can throw into the washer when you are washing “lots of colors together” and it won’t let them bleed onto each other? I’m sure I’ve heard about this somewhere.

LOVE the fat Bunn. I’m about to start embroidering some bunnies (Beatrix Potter style) onto a baby quilt for my newest grandbaby who is due to be born on Easter Sunday. Maybe they’ll name her Bunnie?

Jody

Comment by Jody — April 14, 2011 #
I love that fabric and your bunny is adorable!

Comment by deb — April 14, 2011 #
I can sympathize! We just spent a hefty sum on a new water softener/purifier system (see my blog) and, once again this morning, I am plagued with murky water. Needless to say, I was on the phone with the farm bureau where we purchased this expensive system asap! Is it time to move to the city yet?! Granted, I’m not currently having to wash fabrics for a quilt but I can still understand your plight…

Comment by Dianne — April 14, 2011 #
Oh bad washing machine, hope you get the problem resolved fast! Love your Bliss quilt and can’t wait to see it all together.

Comment by Shawn — April 14, 2011 #
weird – do you like the new color? or no.
I think you can clean your washer. Never done it, but I’ve heard tell.

Comment by barb — April 17, 2011 #
Love the bunny quilt! Lucky you to have memories in cloth! As for the blue in the fabric, hum….. is it the same fabric as your last red? Let me know what quiltbusters say about this weird phenomena! Cheers~

Comment by Carole Prevost-Meier — April 18, 2011 #