Kudos to you but waaaaaaaaay too much work for me :mrgreen:

I always prewash. The first quilt my DIL made was flannel, when she washed it all the seams pulled apart and it was ruined. I wash flannel in warm water and use 3/8 to 1/2" seams. One of my studens washed a finished quilt that she had made for a friend to sell. The colors ran and almost reuined the quilt. She was able to get it to a softer color and the lady paying was happy with it. It is a very good idea to give color cathers with every quilt you give way.

To hand agitate the fabric is an excellent suggestion - that way one avoids any "roughing up" of the fabric - and still can take care of any shrinkage that might occur.

And, yes, shrinkage does occur. I can tell from when I was still using tepid water - some of the lengths are now only 35 inches (from the LQS that measured closely) and I KNOW I purchased a full yard.

For the first pass on fabrics, I try to put only lights with lights. For the dark colors I only put the same colors together. In case one of them has bad manners, I can work some more with it to see if I can get the excess dye off/out of it.

I've decided that if I can't get a fabric to stop "bleeding" dye after several run-throughs, the proper place for it is either to be returned or put in the trash.

For "to be used quilts" - especially a child's quilt - I just assume the person doing the laundry is just going to toss it in the wash and hope for the best. I would guess that most young mothers would not even think of dye catchers or anything else like that after the blankie has been puked on. They just want it to be clean again.

The idea of sending a dye catcher along with a quilt is a good idea - but I think having no dye floating around is an even better idea. But there might be other articles in the wash that have bad manners.


It still comes down to personal preference. I've had just enough experience with shrinkage and dye running/bleeding to be into prevention.

What is a color catcher?

It's like a dryer sheet, except it goes in the washer. They are sold everywhere in the laundry dept.

[i]

Excellent points, especially about fabrics that continue to bleed after being washed several times. So far all the quilts I've made have been given away, and I don't assume that they will get any "special" treatment once they're in their new home. You can always tell someone that it needs to be washed in a special way, but I don't doubt someone in a hurry or just plain forgetful will wash it with other items.

I always always prewash not only for dyes but there a lot of chemicals used which really dulls the machine needles and I just don't like using it until it is washed then use fabric stabelizer works for me

granny,
what's a color catcher. I understand the theory, so name a brand or some other way I'll be able to ask for it.
thanks
peel

What a mess. I thought all my fabrics were washed and I made a ginger jar our of Japanese prints and the dark ones ran... :(

Color catcher is an item you can buy in your supermarket, wal-mart or what ever. There are color ones and Woolite makes a Dye Magnet that is like a dryer sheet. There are 20 of these in a box. I think it is well worth the money. Throw that in with your faric when you wash it and you will be surprized about what it picks up. I also have a cloth one I got someplace. But I really like the hot water in a clear glass and a small square in of the fabric in it.