tracylynn

I used an Aunt Martha iron on embroidery transfer for a hand embroidery project I'm working on and it won't wash out - do you know of any tricks I can try? The transfer is a pink/red dye and I put it on a white cotton fabric. My embroidery floss is also white. It is a large flowered piece I want to use as the center for a patchwork quilt.

I rinsed it in cold water - no luck. I then hand washed it in mild laundry detergent - no luck. Then I tried dish detergent and scrubbed as much as I could without damaging the needlework - no luck. I tried some rubbing alcohol - no luck. I've had it soaking in very hot water with a little bleach and detergent for about 6 hours - it still isn't coming out.

I am hoping there is some kind of home remedy I can use because I live in Ecuador and don't have access to a lot of the commercially available products in the US. I've got a couple of hundred hours into the embroidery and am really, really hoping it can be saved.

Thanks for your help.

kathy

that stamp is permanent, meaning it never washes out. usually the thread covers it up.

justflyingin

I hate to say it, but I didn't know those iron on transfers are meant to come out.

That's why I always disliked them when I was a kid and did embroidery. I could always see those awful blue lines.

Maybe someone can help you, though. Did you try hair spray?

PaperPrincess

Go to the Colonial Patterns website. They are the distributors for these transfers.
http://colonialpatterns.com/
Scroll to the bottom of the home page, and under "Product Tips and Tricks", there's a link for "How to use Iron-on Transfers". this has some tips, but doesn't sound like there's a magic bullet.

Prism99

Instead of trying different methods on your finished piece, I would use the transfer on a scrap of the same fabric and test various removal methods on that.

Here is a link to the PDF:
http://colonialpatterns.com/resource...TipsTricks.pdf

It does say not to use hot water or heat, as that will further set the ink.

ManiacQuilter2

I agree. Test a piece of scrap with the blue iron on and test that first.

tracylynn

Thank you for the link to colonial, I didn't know they were the parent company and was having a hard time finding information.

tracylynn

As soon as I read that, I dumped the hot water and started running cold. That is a really good idea about testing my removal method on a scrap, I am going to give that a try. We are going to town tomorrow, so I'm going to try and find something that might help. Hopefully, the washing fairies will come tonight and I'll wake up in the morning with white embroidery! (though I seriously doubt it)

Tiggersmom

I've never tried this method on anything but I saw a spot on tv that you use 2 eggs 1 can of beer......whip together soak items then rinse. They removed coffee from a white and red flag.

KalamaQuilts

I used a lot of transfers for pillowcase embroideries for my hope chest...40+ years ago. They never wash out.
The work will be lovely in spite so use your treasures with pleasure.