I made this 25″ X 25″ quilt about twelve years ago and used it as a table topper in our bedroom for about three years. It wasn’t a table that was used for anything; nothing was spilled on it. When we moved, I did not have a use for a quilt of this color and size, so I put it the linen closet. It was not sealed away in plastic or stored where it might get dirty. I am not careless of my quilts. The batting is white cotton. It doesn’t have seeds. When I washed it several times, to FINALLY get rid of the bleeding from that red fabric, it was rinsed thoroughly and dried flat.
And yet, it’s stained. The yellow is obvious. After raising three sons, I have an arsenal of stain-removal techniques, and none of them worked. I used oxi-clean. Borax. Fels Naptha. Handmade soap. Everything. The last couple times, I went ahead and dried it in the dryer. I give up.
So now, I have to decide:
1. Should I cut it up and try to do something with the salvageable pieces? It’s not very big, and the elements are not close together, so I am not sure what I could do with it.
Or
2. Should I try to tea-dye it? Redwork embroidery is generally only used on white fabrics, but the splotchy-ness of that style might partially camouflage the stains.
Or
3. Should I toss it out and stop wasting my time? I could let it go and move on.
What do you think? I’m not going to use it as it is now, and there’s no point in putting it back into storage. I have nothing left to lose, right?
GloryQuilts 
Option #4, send it to someone who will treasure it…………………………………………………………………………………….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I had a good solution. I’ve heard that lemon juice on the spot and putting it in the sun works, or maybe hydrogen peroxide and sun? On Facebook, when others have asked, a suggestion is to also try the clorox stick on that area. It’s a cute quilt. Will you make another to work with your current colors?
LikeLike
Oh I can try hydrogen peroxide. I have that. I don’t think I will make another one in the immediate future. I have so many other ideas!
LikeLike
I second the lemon juice and sunshine. Have you tried dish soap? (the kind you would put in your dishwasher) It’s worked for me when nothing else would.
LikeLike
No, I tried some handwashing soap, but not the kind that goes in the dishwasher. I will try that! Thanks.
LikeLike
If you can’t get the stain out, do try tea-dyeing. Like you said, you have nothing to lose, and it would be a shame to just toss such a pretty piece.
LikeLike
Right. I’m going to try these suggestions and then make a decision.
LikeLike
I’d cut it up and maybe make the non-stained pieces into mug rugs or something.
LikeLike
I will try these other cleaning ideas first, but that’s a good idea – mug rugs! Thank you.
LikeLike
I would try the lemon juice trick, too, hoping it won’t bleach the red, too, though. Tea dyeing and mug rugs are also good suggestions … Let us know what you do.
LikeLike
It’s true that getting the stain out may leave the red faded. I’ll post some pictures again when I have tried some of these techniques. Thanks!
LikeLike