Originally Posted by Lori S
Retayne is the best way to go! Vinegar will not work unless an acid type dye has been used , and acid type dyes are not used on cotton quilting fabrics.
Just reiterating this. Vinegar and salt DO NOT work on modern chemical dyes ( used in all quilting cottons). Ppl think they do because they soak a fabric in a solution of one or the other, some dye 'comes out' then it stops, 'bleeding' and they think it's the vinegar/salt that stopped it. In truth, there is some excess dye in the fabric that bleeds away into the solution and plain water would have had the same effect.
I have only ever had one fabric that wouldn't stop bleeding no matter how long I soaked it. It was only a half yard cut of a batik I had been gifted so I tossed it away. In general, I prewash everything in the machine with a mild laundry soap at 40 degrees and I put in a piece of white muslin. If the muslin stays white, I know it's good to go. If it doesn't I wash again with a new piece of white muslin. :-D