what should I do if I get blood on my quilt

Removing blood from your quilt

Tags: how-to, quilt thoughts, quilting lesson, quilts

On the weekend, I was doing some hand stitching when my finger met with the wrong end of the needle - ouch! I wasn't quilting at the time, but I remembered this trick I learned many years ago so wanted to share it again.

blood on my finger from hand applique
Ouch!

When you prick your finger, the blood comes quickly and sometimes, before one realizes, you have blood on your work, not a lot, but of course, it usually happens in a most obvious spot like on a light background fabric. A few years back, it happened to me on a very light background so it was most obvious!

blood on my quilt
Blood on my quilt

Even though I was reasonably quick at getting cold water on it to rinse it out, there was still a stain left behind. Can you see it near the middle of the square?

trying to remove blood with cold water
Cold water attempt

Do you know the best way to get this out? This might sound bad, or different, or whichever way you want to take it, but the best method of getting this blood stain out is to chew up a piece of cotton thread and then dab the spot with the wet bundled thread. Look for yourself.

removing blood using own salvia
Your own saliva works

Apparently, your own saliva will take out the blood stain. If you ask someone else to chew the thread for you, it won't work. It must be the person who did the bleeding. This is a great tip to remember with hand applique. I don't know about you, but I often prick my finger when doing that. 

I use 100% cotton fabric for my quilting so I know it works for that, but has anyone else tried this on other fabrics or fibers? I'd love to hear whether it works on those too.

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2 comments

Worked great! Thank you. I cut a small piece of cotton backing fabric from a corner to use. Saliva is some great stuff.

Jnette

Oh my gosh! That worked just like a charm! Who would have thought that… kinda gross but hey. Whatever works. Thank you!

Carla

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