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Old 06-03-2013, 06:56 PM
  #5  
Prism99
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
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Just wondering how you washed the quilt top? Usually you do not want to wash at all until after the top is quilted and bound. This is to prevent uneven shrinkage of the fabrics and frayed seams. Ideally the first wash of the finished quilt is with Synthrapol in a washing machine that uses *lots* of water. Synthrapol suspends free-floating dyes in water so they do not settle into fabric. You want to use lots of water to keep any bleeding dyes very diluted.

Synthrapol will also take out a bleed such as you have. However, it usually takes several washings in Synthrapol and hot water. You really do not want to do that until after the top is quilted and bound. Use either a domestic top-loading washing machine or a laundromat front loader. Both of these use enough water to keep dye bleeds diluted. Domestic front-loader washing machines do *not* use enough water.

Synthrapol is often available in quilt shops, especially those that cater to dyers. Otherwise you can order it online. Places like Amazon, Dharma Trading, and ProChem all carry it. Here is a link to Synthrapol on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Synthrap...dp/B000YZ3UHQ/
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