I went to wash the blue fabric I planned to use for the blue and yellow swap last night, and the dye ran something wicked. I was relieved I hadn't used it in anything! Then this morning when I laid it out to dry I realised there's a bit missing off the bottom. :shock: I DID use it! Arrrrggggghhhhhh!

I've use a small piece of it in a baltimore block, which is set on a pale tan background, perfect for showing off runny blue lines of dye. *sob*

It's not that big a deal, it's one block so I can remake it. But is there anyway to wash the block and NOT have that blue run?

Oh Blue I am so sorry!!! I am wondering if Bubble Jet would keep it from running?? Hopefully other's here will know!!!

I have had pieces of fabric (not many, but a few) that still ran after changing the water at least 30 times.

I finally just discarded it. By that time it was looking a little less than fresh, and I was just plain fed up with it.

No point in ruining anything else with that "bad apple"

Do you have the sheets you add to the wash to catch stray dye? I'd give it plenty of water and keep fingers crossed.

I don't know if we can get those sheets here, I haven't seen them. Mind you, haven't really looked!

I do have some bubble jet though.... I might throw it in a bucket with that.

Hey Blue, I've had some good luck setting deep colors with white vinegar diluted with some water and I have also read where salt in water should also work to set the color(I haven't tried this one yet). Good luck and let us know what worked for you.

You may want to check out this thread:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/23505.page

It mentions a few products that might help you. I would try a test swatch (sew some of that blue fabric on some white fabric) and see what happens when you use one or products on this thread.

I also have found Dye Grabber (you can get this at JoAnns or some grocery stores) will work to 'grab' dye that releases in the washing machine.

Good luck!

Thanks. :-)

We don't have a Joanns here. I will see if I can get some dye grabber from somewhere next week. Will ask at my LQS if we get it here.

I've put the big piece of fabric in a bucket with the Jet Stop stuff, it says on the bottle that it prevents runs and sets dyes. It looks like the water is still going blue though, so not sure if it would be enough for the Baltimore block.

I'm kind of over the panic now... if I have to remake it, it's no big deal. So will be a bit of an experiement to see if I can set the dye! :-)

Whoops! I just realized you live in New Zealand. Of course, you wouldn't have a JoAnn's there. Sorry! But, good luck and keep us posted on your experiment.

I'm so sorry that happened to you, but what a relief that it happened now before you made a bunch of swap blocks!! I hate it for your applique block though. Hope your experiment is working. I use the "Shout"---color catchers and I really like them. If you want...I can send you some....let me know...

Try white vinegar in some water. Rinse it well though because the vinegar smell tends to linger.

Thanks, if I can't find something here I'll yell. It's not something I've ever looked for, or thought about, so there might well be heaps of products here I've just never noticed. lol



White vinegar is magic stuff isn't it, so many uses for it. Will that seal the colour in or just pull the extra colour out?

can you return it? I consider fabric that bleeds to be defective.

Vinegar is supposed to set the color in.

I could... if I knew where I got it from! lol

It's been in my stash for quite some time, I haven't got a clue where I got it. Bits like that which I've bought purely because I love the colour, I tend to get at shows when there's merchants from around the country here.

So sorry to hear about your dye running. I live in Australia and i managed to get some of those color catcher sheets here in Woolworths which i was surprised to get as we cant usually get many things that they can get in the USA. If you can't let me know and I will post you a box.

Ahhh.... I had a look in woolworths tonight but couldn't see any. Mind you, it's quite a small one. We do our weekly shop tomorrow at a bigger store, so will check in there.

:-)

In the "olden days" I can remember using a strong salt water solution to soak "runny" fabric in to set the color.. Would make a bucket of it, soak the item in it then rinse several times. Worked when I used it but alas I can't remember the proportions.

make sure its washed in synthropol when it is washed and that will keep it from going onto other fabric. I had some red run once and I stuck it right back in the washer with the synthropol and it all came out...never without it.

we used to do this inthe OLD days so our jeans wouldn't fade....now they try and fade them... :lol:

I used to buy cotton fabric in India, and the boldest colors ran - even the yellows. I tried vinegar and salt - neither worked. This was BEFORE Color Grabber sheets, and I didn't know about Synthrapol. I still have the fabric!didn't throw any of that fabric away because the colors were so glorious!

My experience has been that Synthrapol is best, Color Grabbers are 2nd best. But try everything before you give up, Blue! If the color still runs, save it for a wall hanging!

Maybe whoever is sending Blue their center can include a some Color Grabbe sheets!

To set the dye in the fabric, you can wash it in Retayne. That will permanently set dye into fabric.

For a quilt in which the fabric has already been used, I highly recommend washing with Synthrapol. Synthrapol suspends unset dye particle in the water so they rinse away instead of settling into other fabrics. For a quilt that has already had a "bleed", repeated washings in Synthrapol will often eliminate or at least minimize the bleed.

You ***never*** want to wash a quilt in Retayne. It would set any unwanted bleeds permanently.

Many quilt shops, especially those that cater to dyers, carry Synthrapol and Retayne.

http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/settingdye.shtml

i don't know if this is any help to you. but it repeats what some have already said.

If the fabrics are pretty much one-color (not wildly variegated colors), try washing them in Retayne rather than Synthrapol. Retayne *sets* dye. Synthrapol merely washes away unset dye.