Other than small blocks I have not used Batiks in a quilt. I wanted to make a Fence Rail. I always laundry fabic before I do anything to it. I always use hot water because I don't know how the receiver will laundry it and want to make sure that it is good to go. I have heard that Batiks bleed. I used the color catchers and boy did it CATCH. I have now washed the fabic 4 times. The second wash the catcher was darker blue that the first wash. The catcher WAS getting lighter in the next two washes.

(1) How many times do I need to wash it?

(2) Was there something I should have done from the start?

(3) Will it continue to bleed?

(4) Do I need to let the receiver know how to laundry the quilt?

I do thank anyone that can help me. I don't want to make and give the quilt if there is going to continue to be a problem. Someone please help me. Thank You Brendak

I would try using Retayne which is a dye fixative. You can find it on line and some quilt shops carry it.

You need to wash a "bleeder" fabric in Retayne to permanently set dye. The fabric is continuing to bleed because the dye was never set properly. Test for bleeding after using Retayne; a few fabrics need two Retayne treatments. If the fabric still bleeds after two Retayne treatments, I would not use it in a quilt.

:-P Thank you. Is this normal for Batiks? This was not cheap fabric I paid $12 a yard for it but I guess that doesn't make a difference when it's a bleeder. BrendaK

Are you sure it's not your detergent on the color catcher? That's what has happened to me. I've never had LQS batiks bleed, but if I wash old white sheets with blue detergent, that color catcher will come out dark blue-grey.

I didn't use any detergent. Just hot water and the color catchers. At one point during the third wash I looked in the machine and the water was blue. BrendaK

I agree that Retayne is the way to go .. just be advised that fabrics treated with Retayne need to be washed in COLD water once treated. You may want to make a care lable for this quilt.
As you found out many batiks bleed more in the second wash , or some even later ... because there is often resist still in the fabric.( Resist is what is used in the dying process to keep dyes in specifc places. ). Once this remaining resist is removed either via temperature and or detergent , what once may not have run/bleed on inital check , may start to bleed or bleed worse.

I used retayne on mine first I washed it in hotwater and used hot water with the retayne my water is very hot from the tap if yours is not real hot add boiling water, the directions call for very hotwater with the retayne. Washed it after that with colorcatchers and it remaind white

:cry: :cry: Man am I confused. Does this mean that even after I treat the fabric that it can continue to bleed? What if the receiver forgets and washes it in hot water, will that undo the Retayne? Maybe I am making too big of a deal out of this but the lady I want to give it to is really special and I wanted the quilt also to be special. I guess there are no quarantees.BrendaK

Yes it must be washed in cold water, anything warmer will remove the Retayne. Sorry ,... I know this is not the answer you wanted to hear , but....
But , I wash all of my laundry that has any colors in cold water! Only the whites get warm or hot water.