Originally Posted by
Christine-
It's even better to soak them in hot water with Retayne added. I do this for all my red, dk blue, dk purples, etc., etc. Retayne is made specifically to make dye permanent and will stop the bleeding. It's best used before you cut your fabric.
After you use the bleeding fabric in a quilt, it's best to use Synthrapol. It is made for dyed fabrics that have already bled and the fugitive dye has deposited onto nearby fabric. It is a product made to keep dye from settling back on fabrics.
This is probably stubbornness on my part - but if commercially dyed fabric won't behave "on it's own" after a couple of washes - without using color catchers, retayne, or synthropol , o whatever - I will not use it.
I do not know anything about hand-dying fabrics and what is used in the processes.
Excess dye and bleeding are two different things.