OK, well maybe mini-disaster. I was recently asked to make twelve quilted placemats for a lady. She had the fabric and wanted me to get a red backing. After reading about Kiwiquilters problems with her backing bleeding, I decided I'd better check my red. And sure enough, after many, many rinsings and dryings it was still bleeding. So I went online and ordered Retayne. Voila! After treating the fabric with Retayne, it no longer bleeds. I don't think I would have thought to test the fabric except for reading the warnings on here. The lady's fabric had Holstein cows on it (black & white ones) and she would have ended up with pink and black cows!!

Glad you were able to Divert a real potential disaster. I swear by Retayne. It really does work.

does that mean the cows would have given strawberry milk? LOL sorry I'm feeling silly today.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
red is a very hard colour I was given some red face towels and they ran like mad couldn't wash them in anything other than red washing, fortunatly I wear a lot of red.

I just DISPOSED of about 2 yards of red fabric that bled and bled and bled. Fortunately I washed it alone, but each time it bled. Never thought of Retayne? and the garbage truck came 2 days ago. I'll get some and keep it on hand. That red was going into a Christmas lap robe that I know would have been washed often. I've always wondered why fabric I buy in the same place winds up being so different.

Would Retayne work on Batiks?

I have never heard of this product ..

my question to this is ... do you need to use the Retayne every time the material is washed? I have not used it and have no idea how it works. I have been fortunate in not having any fabric bleed.

I just googled it , it doesnt say once is enough or not..

I have not heard of this product either. Where is the best place to find Retayne?

I am getting ready to make some red, green and white Christmas projects. I want to avoid a potential disaster as well.

No. You only use it once and you're good to go.

You can order it here or try your LQS.
http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1981-AA.shtml

I think you're better off using Synthrapol for batiks.
Check the Dharma Trading website.

Thank you EasyPeezy... now I know how to use it if the need ever arises. :)

Retayne and Synthrapol do different things. Synthrapol washes out and captures excess dye and keeps it from depositing back on the fabric. Retayne helps to better "set" dye to the faric. I hand dye and use both: Syntrapol to get rid of the extra dye and Retayne to keep what did set on the fabric "attached" better. Batiks sometimes have extra dye that hasn't been fully washed out so Synthrapol might be better, but it won't "set" dye that has trouble attaching itself.

I use Retayne on batiks with gret sucess.

I just wish it was for sale here. Sigh.

I just finished talking to the people at Dharma Trading. http://www.dharmatrading.com/index.html

You can get Retayne shipped internationally to most countries. Check their shipping info link. They are really great people. They have the patience of a SAINT to answer all my questions.

The dye makers need to be introduced to this product! We would be very happy campers!!! :-)

I use Shout Color Catchers, purple is the color that bleeds the most.

I got mine off Ebay.

I especially use Retayne on Batiks ... Batiks is what got me started using Retayne.
Synthropol is for use once a project is completed, and fabrics have not been treated with Retayne. Syntropol will not keep the fabrics from running/bleeding it justs suspends the released dye so it does not discolor the reamaining textiles. Note Syntropol is to be used in warm water, and the company recommneds once Synthropol has been used all subsiquent washes of treated must be washed in warm as well.
Retayne works to lock in the dyes not just work with excess that is released. Once Fabric has been treated with Retayne , wash in cold water.

I also learn things everyday on this board. Glad it helped on your near-disaster. That would of been heart breaking.
3 cheers for our board!

I have to get some Retayne! I have Synthropol. Thanks for explaining the difference here and in other posts!!!

Again I say.......thanks for this board. I have learned so much here.

Glad you didnt have a dissater!!!!!!!

How do you use it?

I put a sheet of Shout Color Catcher in my machine when I am washing clothes and I have not ohad any problem with bleeding.

A Color Catcher does not set dye. It helps keep loose dye from redepositing on the fabric. I find so-so results. They help but I think setting dye completely first THEN use color catchers is a smarter way to go.

YUMMIE !!!!

many years ago when my son would have the nestle quick's strawberry mix in his milk he called it "bunny" milk cause of Nestle's having a pink bunny on the canister.;-)

Thanks for posting this!!!!! I just ordered a bottle from Amazon.com

How cool. I have never heard of Retyane either. The website tells a lot about the product. I haven't had problems with bleeding fabrics of any color and yes, I use the Shout color catchers and they have really helped on any color transfer - especially when my son hides a white sock in with my colors! LOL

The bottle directions say to estimate the amount of HOT water it takes to cover the fabric in your washing machine. Fill the machine to that level and add a teaspoon of Retayne for each yard of fabric. Put in your dry fabric and wash for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water and dry at one. I have a front loading washing machine, so I just put hot water in a stainless steel bowl and put the fabric in there and let is soak. Then did a rinse and spin cycle in the washing machine and dried.

this is great information ~ thank you so much for sharing :)

I just spoke to the owner of my LQS. She looked this product up online and said that if you are displaying the quilt in an area where a lot of light and/or sun will reach it, don't use this product.
It seems that it spreads the threads/fibers apart more and that does something to the fabric which makes it fade in bright light/sunlight.
Just a friendly warning.

YAY!! I'm glad all this info helped! I get so much info from the forum...just have to remember it all is my problem!. :lol:

White Vinegar in the washer (1 cup) will eliminate all excess dye and prevent it from settling into other fabrics! I buy it by the gallon and then use it when I prewash my fabrics and nothing runs!

Can you post the information on that?

This information is readliy avaiable on the products web sight. It does indeed make the fabrics treated more reactive to sunlight.... but I would rather not have the bleeding of fabrics ruin the quilt.