Yarn or Fabric

I had considered taking it back - although I didn't get it from a quilt shop.. it came from the evil empire. Having said that, I have never had fabric run like this in the past - even evil empire material. I didn't see a purple that quite worked at Hancocks and Hobby Lobby was closed since I got it on a Sunday... I know the dye is out now or at least I'm pretty confident it is.

I wonder if the evil empire would take it back... I might call the manufacturer if I can find it on the bolt next time I'm at the store... til then, it's okay. I am just soooo happy that I'm a prewasher cause I tell you what, I would have been soooo ticked if it happened afterwards. It would have totally ruined my runners & anything else that was in the wash too.. not to mention, it would not look quite match... so much for finding that perfect shade of purple. I was sooo thrilled when I found it since it matched 100% perfectly... well, til I washed it lol.

Angellight

There is always the debate as to whether to wash or not to wash before you start a quilt. I was not a pre-washer, however a friend of mine who hand appliques everything had to try to wash out a quilt of hers where a purple/green batik ran. The purple in the batik ran & she worked several days to get it out. Still has some spots but only if you look hard. I have washed every batik I bring into the house now for over a year and even though I was told by a LQS that they boil the fabric to get all of the wax out I still have had color run.
So, yes, I always wash and dry my batiks in the hottest water I can use just to be safe.

Happy Quilting,
Susan

crashnquilt

I've not heard of a batik running that bad. Batiks should be dyed, boiled, washed, rinsed and the like quite a bit BEFORE they make to the public. Wax is used as a resist for the dye and that is how you get the wonderful patterns in the batik. Then the fabric should be washed in nearly boiling water to remove all the wax before they wind it on bolts and sell to the public.

You have a fabric that was not properly manufactured. You need to return that fabric to the store! Even if you don't get your money back, they should exchange it. They should then return their bolt to their supplier.

But, you can also use Epsom Salt to set dye in fabrics. It works great and much cheaper and readily available.

natalieg

Sorry to hear about the "running of the batiks"-sounds like it decided to win first place! Hopefully you will find what you need for the front and it will work better for you!

ptquilts

I would be back at that store so fast...

while we are talking about running dyes, why is it they run and get on other fabric so easy, but then it is so hard to get it out of where you don't want it. We are talking about some pink BVDs here.

Blue Bell

A friend of mine bought a cranberry colored fabric, washed it 9 times in the washer and it was still bleeding.

Also, I had a quilt quilted with reddish thread and the thread bleed. I had to wash it 4 times and ended up using the whole box of color catchers. The color catchers came to to rescue. What a relief.

maryb119

I use Retayne when i prewash my batiks. It helps set the dye.

ajonkarl

YIKES!!! I just bought a piece of deep purple batik from Walmart and hadn't decided what to do with it. I usually am not a pre-washer but glad I read this, so will definetely do so before I forget. If I wash in the sink and there is that much dye bleed I wonder if I could dye some cotton to a light shade? Also have some Rit dye fixative I might try. I bought a emerald green piece also, better work on that also. Thanks for the info.

Yarn or Fabric

I wonder if you have the same purple batik as I do - or did lol. I am going to wet it down one last time I think just to be on the safe side before I use it. I don't think Walmart will take it back...

np3

Sorry, at least you didn't ruin the other fabrics.....