oldpiglady

Hi guys. Haven't written anything lately but tonight I ran across a problem. I am making a quilt for my wonderful grandson. It is rectangles of jeans denim along with rectangles of bright batiks. Each one is surrounded with white borders. And then sewn together. I was starching them all as I went along only to find the batiks are bleeding on the white. I decided 'before' I sewed all of them together and then had a BIG problem I am soaking all the batik rectangles in vinegar...even as we speak. Is there anything else I can do...without leaving my house to buy anything else....that I should add? Something in my cupboard? Plus....just how long should I be soaking them in vinegar?
Your help is really needed. I thank you all, much.

ckcowl

All vinegar will do is freshen the fabric- will have no effect on the dyes. Generally when you have a bleeder you can try ( Retain) following the instructions with Hot water- when we don't have Retain we just wash/rinse until no more color is coming off. Some people toss in an old towel, or color catchers.

FiveseveN

On another thread, somone said vinegar and epsom salt???

dunster

I agree with ckcowl that vinegar will not help with modern dyes. Soak in hot water, use Retayne if you have it to set the dye, but only before the fabrics are sewn together. (Using it after will set dye onto the white, not what you want.) Synthrapol can be used to keep the loose dye particles from settling onto the fabrics.

ManiacQuilter2

If that doesn't work, wouldn't substituting black instead of white work??

soccertxi

Vicki Welch has a good article on what she found trying to fix bleeding fabrics. Hope one will work for you.

http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_...eding-fabrics/