Monday, September 19, 2011

What to do?


So....I should be doing a happy dance as I have finished my Samurai (all except the cording).....but..... I guess the happy dance has been put on hold because after finishing the stitching, I did as I always do - I washed my stitching. And this is where the happy dance comes to a screetching halt. What's the worst thing that can happen to a stitcher when he or she washes her finished piece? Yup, you guessed it. The colours bleed. That's what happened with my Samurai. It's not too bad, believe me I have seen worse, but I'm just so disappointed that the colours on a Dimensions Gold kit would do this. Afterall, isn't that why these kits are more expensive, because they (supposedly) contain quality fabric and threads - well that's what I thought anyway. So today I have to take my courage in both hands and decide what to do with the Samurai....

leave it as it is (spoils the whole piece),

wash it again and hope that nothing else bleeds and that the stains fade (wishful thinking?)

or maybe try using some vanish and a little cotton bud right on the stains.

Oh, what to do? This is certainly not how I planned spending my day!

Wish me luck!

Until next time...happy (without washing it) stitching!

Rhona

11 comments:

Freddysmama (Kirstin) said...

Oh no!

I had a piece bleed on me a while back - After saying a few words completely unsuitable for children's ears, I took a deep breath, rinsed it a couple of times in luke warm water and lucky for me, the runs rinsed out...

You haven't ironed it or done anything that would set the stain have you?

Good luck, it's heartbreaking after all that work :(

{{{HUGS}}}

Anne said...

Awwwww Rhona this is awful. All that time spent on him and with all the missing threads too. I was told, when my threads bled on Tanglewood to immerse the stain in ice cold water over and over, replacing the water. Someone said it could take many douses in the cold water. Do try with a bit of vanish on a part that isn't too close to the stitching to see if it works. I'm so sorry this happened to you :(

Vilje Vanilje said...

OH NO! I am so sorry to hear that, I was looking forward to see your finished piece too. I don't have any advice on how to get rid of the stain. But send a mail and complain to Dimensions so that maybe no one else experience the same thing.

cucki said...

oh dear..this is really not nice..
i hope you sort it soon..
good luck dear and my everything is crossed for you..
big hugs xx

cucki said...

oh dear..i am keep on thinking what to do with this samurai..
i am not sure how to remove the stain on it..but i am praying so hard that you can sort this out..
i feel like crying..it was such a beautiful picture and you put alot of work in it..
good luck dear..me still thinking what to do..
hugs xx

Terri said...

So sorry to hear about the bleeding! I had a piece do that once (red on white!) and I rinsed, and rinsed, and rinsed, and rinsed until the colors came out. I also used some Orvus (available at Nordic Needle or your local tack/TSC store)

Good luck and it's a beautiful piece!!

Lynn said...

Oh Rhona, how awful! I haven't had this happen to me but it did to one of my fellow stitchers. She rinsed her design several times and I believe she used Orvus as well. I certainly hope you can remedy this after all that work.

Poppypatchwork said...

That's terrible, you must be gutted!, I never wash any of my work. I will be thinking about you all day with fingers crossed.

Unknown said...

Rhona, that is heart breaking. I've never washed anything after stitching for fear it would fluff up the threads and make it look messy.

Please let us know asap how it turns out and take a photo for us.

Carol said...

Oh, how horrid! I can't even imagine having that happen after all that work. I hope you can figure out some way to salvage it or disguise any of the bleeding with more stitching. Good luck to you...

Lija Broka said...

Oh dear, that's terrible. I will be frightened to wash my work in future. And I can't survive without doing so as it always ends up in very dreadful stains. My worst experience and stains was with painting. I paint in oils; and after a particular winter session at the studio I put my coat on to go out and managed to brush past my painting. So my lovely beige coat was covered in red oil paint that doesn't come out. Good luck with! Lija