Thread: Recipe to Keep Colors from Running

Also interested. In theanssers

Also interested in answers to the questions posted. I have some reds that need to be prewashed for my redwork quilts I am working on. Happy New Year to everyone.

I just used this recipe with tessagin's tip on when to add it and it worked beautifully. I had some blocks with white fabric and 10 yards of red fabric for backing plus some red in the front. There appears to be no bleeding and no red in the color catchers either.

Originally Posted by caspharm

I just used this recipe with tessagin's tip on when to add it and it worked beautifully. I had some blocks with white fabric and 10 yards of red fabric for backing plus some red in the front. There appears to be no bleeding and no red in the color catchers either.

Somehow, I missed tessagin's tip. what was it? I still don't know exactly how to use this method and it would really be helpful to know if it works. to whomever has tried it and knows how to go about it, please post the steps here for all of us! Thanks so much.

Originally Posted by Helen6869

Somehow, I missed tessagin's tip. what was it? I still don't know exactly how to use this method and it would really be helpful to know if it works. to whomever has tried it and knows how to go about it, please post the steps here for all of us! Thanks so much.

Here is tssagin's tip from the first page of this thread: I saw this recipe a while back. I mixed everything into a large measuring cup (sans the color catcher)the after some water in the machine I added the mixture. I had some fabric that I spilled water on and luckily it was on paper and bled. I had already pre-washed once. Did another washing with this mixture and no more bleed.

I did the same - mixing it in a measuring cup and then adding it to the water in the washer tub. Since my machine has a load sensor, I started it with the quilt in the washer, but after it filled with water, I paused the cycle and added the mixture into the water (moving the quilt to one side, so the mixture wasn't poured directly on the quilt) and then added the color catchers. I had a wool batting, so I used the wool setting on my machine and it worked wonderfully.

I can't wait to see how it works on batiks.

Reading carefully all this info. I did a "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" in blues. Used transferease so after done embroidering had to soak each 'square' to get that off. Well the blue did bleed. tried many different things. put it away for many months. then I soaked it (I had already sewed it together) in oxy clean a couple of times. It did a pretty good job of cleaning up the mess! Some of the blue embroidery thread was old which perhaps made a difference but when using it in dishtowels it was fine.
I will try this recipe in reds and blacks especially.

I am SO sorry that I didn't check back to answer questions. I have no idea why I didn't come back to see that I failed to post details. You are supposed to be able to read my mind, don'tcha know? LOL

I have a front loader washing machine .

I WASH REDS, DEEP PURPLES, BLACKS separate from lighter colors. Supposedly you can do darks and lights together if you use Color Catchers (made by Shout, located in the laundry products aisle of the grocery store).

I do a load with all the really dark dyes together after I have soaked each one individually in the sink to see how much they run. Some will only bleed a little, but if I have one that won't stop after about 3 soaks in the sink, I won't use it at all. It often means the dye is inferior, but that seldom happens with quality quilting cotton.

1. Set the water level to high and the temperature to COLD for DARKS or WARM for all others.
2. Place 2-3 Color Catcher into a zippered mesh lingerie bag and toss it into the back of the (front loading) washer.
3. Let the machine start to fill while you stir the mixture into a glass measuring cup.
4. Pour the mixture into the machine and then add the fabric.
5. Depending on how dark your darks are, you might want to set the machine for a double rinse.

The color comes out on the Color Catcher sheets. Discard the sheets before putting your load into the dryer. (It won't hurt them but it's not necessary.)

From what I hear, it's the vinegar that stops the bleeding of colors. I believe it, because when I added just 1/2 cup vinegar to a half gallon of water (more or less) in my bathroom sink, the presoaking was a cinch. Each dark color seemed arrested.

Hope this info helps. By now you've probably all Googled it and thought I jumped ship after sharing my recipe. Sorry again. Happy Color CAtching!