Traditional Quilter

I had a red fabric that I prewashed in Retayne. However, when I completed my king size red and white quilt top I discovered that the red bled onto the white when I spritzed the marking for quilting. Synthrapol removed the bleeding stain after 3 washings. After having it about 3/4 finished with hand quilting another accident happened -- the cat. The red bled again. I decided that it was time to cut my losses on this "Murphy's Law Quilt", and I tossed it in the trash. There are some fabrics that just won't stop bleeding. Now, I test my fabric by cutting a small square (3-5 inches) from the corners of the darkest and lightest fabric that will be going into my quilt. I place a few drops of the soap I'll use to wash the quilt (I wash all my quilts after finished) in a bowl or glass of water. I drop both pieces of fabric in and let it sit all day or overnight. I check to see if there's color in the bowl and if my light fabric has absorbed it, I try another light fabric. If there's no color on the light fabric, I rinse both pieces, lay them together on a flat surface, lay something flat and heavy on top (I use a heavy cutting board), and let them stay together 24 hours. If the light fabric hasn't absorbed any color, I use both fabrics. If it has, I discard the dark fabric for that project. I learned this from Harriet Hargrave's "From Fiber to Fabric." It is time consuming to test, but better and less frustrating than my first experience.

katesnanna

If I have fabric that bleeds on the second wash i squeeze it out then line dry and iron it. No more bleeding. Put a friend on to this and it worked for her also. BTW I always line dry as I haven't owned a dryer for 20 years.
Worst bleeder I ever had was a Jinny Beyer fabric.

Jeanette Frantz

Yes, I do know of a way! I use Rit Dye Company's Dye Fixative. I have done a lot of reds and whites and I've found if you don't treat the fabrics, they will bleed -- it's a foregone conclusion. If you use it (and I had to order it direct from the Rit Dye Website) as instructed, it DOES WORK! I don't have any ownership interest in the company -- but when a product works, I don't mind telling about it!

Jeanette Frantz

Prism99

Please do not confuse Retayne with Synthrapol! Use Synthrapol with color catchers (in a machine that uses lots of water, so any dye bleeds are sufficiently diluted) to wash a finished quilt. Retayne is for prewashing fabrics. If you use Retayne on a finished quilt and a fabric in that quilt bleeds, Retayne will set the bleed.

Jan in VA

I remember it this way......
Retayne R-E-T-A-I-N-S the color in the fabric, set by the product.
Synthrapol S-E-N-Ds the color down the drain, not into the fabric.

Jan in VA

oldtisme

Bearisgray thanks for the tip about ReTayne, I just hopped over to Amazon & ordered a bottle. I'll be using red sashing & boarders on a black and white quilt top.

janeknapp

WHEN TO USE RETAYNE AND SYNTHRAPOL
http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/home.php?cat=323

bearisgray

It's very important to use Retayne and/or Synthropol correctly.

They are NOT interchangeable!

creed

I use salt or epsom salts to set colors. Hope this works for you .

TacoMama

Bless your heart! I use Retayne and color catchers and sometimes vinegar. You just can't be too careful. BE SURE AND PREWASH!!!!!!!!!