Stitching for Charity! (brainstorming)

[jadely]

Have any of you used a fabric detergent? An older lady at church said she put in a "smidgen" of All Clean & Clear and that it really took out the oils. Maybe it sounds a bit silly, but I'm super nervous about washing and ruining my stitches. I'm going to leave my quilt square to the professional and try it on one of my pieces as soon as I get up the nerve

[Eliste]

An older lady at church said she put in a "smidgen" of All Clean & Clear and that it really took out the oils.

I have never tried it and do not plan on doing so. I don't know what's in All Clean & Clear, but it is very very difficult to find anything these days that doesn't contain optical brighteners, oxegen-based bleaching agents, or some other way to make your colors pop. And all of those would have a good chance of slightly altering your colours.

I can understand wanting to get rid of oils on fabric, but with stitches, part of the reason it lays the way it does, is because you've worked it into that shape with the oils in your hands. There are threads out there that actually benefit from your skin oil and come away looking more lustrous because of it.

It may not be much of an issue for DMC/Anchor threads, but really, you shouldn't have all that much to get off your stitching unless you managed to spill something on it (been there, done that). You're only looking to lift visible dirt/oils off of your stitching.

Maybe it sounds a bit silly, but I'm super nervous about washing and ruining my stitches. I'm going to leave my quilt square to the professional and try it on one of my pieces as soon as I get up the nerve

It makes perfect sense. I often procrastinate actually doing it because of this exact reason! Btw- this might help ya-
From Stitches to Masterpiece: Cleaning

[blackmageheart]

Just wanted to give a little update - even though you've all seen my finished pieces I've put them all together for group photos!
Here's one of them:

Spoiler

squares 4c.jpg (157.18 KiB) Viewed 3199 times

I will be wrapping them up and sending them out to you as soon as I can, tnitnetny

[Yurtle]

Those are amazing, BMH!!

[Awenmir]

Sorry to announce this so late but it looks like I'll only be able to finish my Zelda square in time for the deadline- things have been a bit hectic as I've been busy making arrangements for University so had very little time for stitching . I'm more than happy to donate a bit extra to make up- sorry again everyone.

[shanoa]

I'm about halfway done with my square and am on track to have it done by the end of the month. Is there a specific date that we have to get these things to our quilter?

[corbin]

I believe august 1st is when they are supposed to be in the mail and on the way to tnitnetny. I don't know if that is just the first date so she can see how much she has and if there will be a second date for additional squares or if it is just august 1st. I am hoping there is a little grace period for slackers like me who stitch slowly since I really really want to get my kefka one done for the quilt >_<

[tnitnetny]

The date was August 1. Everyone wanted me to get the quilts done by November 1 so I could get one sent to the charity event in Washington for Child's Play and we could get the others set up in auctions.

Although, I will be doing the Baltimore Comic Con, so honestly I probably won't start quilting these until September 1. 2 months should give me enough time.

So if you need another month, the absolute last day is September 1. I will be going to the fabric store and get started on them on this date. Any I get after September 1st won't be in the quilt/quilts.

If it looks like I only get enough squares for 1 quilts, we can take a vote to say if we auction or if we donate for auction at the Child's Play event.

[Yurtle]

Can I just say "PHEW"?!

I will absolutely have both of mine done by mid-August but trying for them to be in the mail for August 1st was going to be high-near impossible, no matter how many people I enlisted to try and help me!

Thank you for the little bit of extra time!! You will definitley have them both in your hands for September 1st!

[crabbyman]

I couldn't agree more, Yurtle! This is great news for me and my procrastination.