Finishes and Disappointment

I finished both Family Reunion quilt tops!  I've not had much sewing room time the past 2 weeks, so this took me longer than anticipated.  I've made both of these quilt tops on my Featherweight.

1939 Singer 221

I made two of these quilt tops.  One to be raffled off at the family reunion (the raffle and an auction of fun 'goods' pays for all the reunion costs) and one for me.  I'm not interested in buying a raffle ticket for something that I paid for the fabric and sewed myself (and paid the long arm quilter to quilt).  That is why I make two quilts.  These quilts are identical.  The colors are brighter in person.  Cloudy & rainy days don't make good days to take photos. (the background is bright white, and the fabrics are 1930's reproductions).

first quilt top

2nd quilt top

I had problems with the backing fabric.  I choose red with stars for the backing, but it bled so badly.  I washed the backings 10 times!  Two of those times I treated the fabric with Retayne, and 3 other times I used vinegar and salt. I washed the quilts with soap and a Color Catcher in between each time I treated the fabric.  These are the Color Catchers after washing.

Color Catchers, still showing color bleed

The last Color Catcher was still very pale pink, but I gave up.  I'll included Color Catchers with the quilt.

Here are some up close photos of the quilt, including the center square.

Center square, used as a label

As I was sewing the last seams, my mother called me to let me know that the Family Reunion had just been cancelled (again).  This was the second year that the reunion has been cancelled due to Covid.  Grrr!!!  Covid, just GO AWAY!