I bought some "Gee's Bend" fabric that is burgendy red. I have washed this stuff several times and dried it in the dryer... it won't stop bleeding.

I can't use it for any project like it is.. any suggestions on how to set the color or stop it from bleeding?

Thanks!

Hi there

I usually put the cottons in salt water to stop them from bleeding.

"Naughty fabric! Naughty, naughty!!"

Aggravating, isn't it?!! Welcome to the Board, by the way.

There's a product called Rytayne(sp?) or Synthrapo (sp?) you can use. Alos, use the Search function up top to look for other threads on bleeding fabric and color running.

Good luck!

I also bought the red Gee's Bend fabric and had a horrible time. It didn't just bleed it was like cutting an artery. I took it back to the shop, got my money back and the owner said she used vinegar and a tumble in a hot dryer and got it to stop bleeding. I won't trust it in a quilt.

Use Retayne prior to construction to lock in the dye. Use Synthropol once constructed. Synthropol will not really stop the bleeding it just keeps the dye that has migrated from the fabric from attaching to other fabrics in the water. It does assist in removing excess dye that has not "bonded" to the fibers. If washing with Synthropol make sure you remove the quilt ASAP from the cycle as there could still be a bit of migration if moisture is in the quilt if there are really bad bleeders, because once rinsed the Synthropol is gone.
I use Retayne and then test again to make sure. If it is a known "offender" such as some batiks I have used twice the dosage and gotten excellent results. It is pretty reasonable to use at only 1 teaspoon per yard. But you must get the water temp up to 140 degrees . Once treated with Retayne wash only in COLD WATER.
Using Synthropol requires more , so ... one teaspoon per gallon of HOT water. Anything treated using Synthropol must be washed in warm water 110 degrees.
Vinegar is not effective for cotton fabrics. Some may get results but it is mostly from the water, vinegar will remove most treatments such as starch and sizing used in the manufacturing finishing process.

Retayne

I recently bought some Synthropol on the recommendation from a friend but haven't tried it yet. Thanks for the advice!

I will have to get some Retayne too - soundslike that is what I need more to prevent further bleeding. :)

Retayne and a color catcher in the wash. but sometimes you do get one that just wont quit, best use if that is the case...wall hanging that won't get washed :(
if it is going to stop
retayne will do the trick (or synthropol which is what we use to wash away any 'loose-colors' when we dye our own fabrics. it only takes about a teaspoon in a washer, but it works.
good luck; good thing you tested!

I used Synthropol on this fabric according to the directions from the bottle. It did not touch the bleeding from this fabric. I did not have any Retayne at the time.
Myself and two other quilters who have dyed fabric have seen nothing like this Gee's Bend fabric! It just would not quit!
I would not recommend using this particular fabric in any piece...even a wallhanging. My opinion, take it for what it's worth. This is not my first quilt. ;0)
But I now have a pink blouse that I had to overdye because of splashing while attempting to put a tourniquet on this fabric. Also, the color of the fabric was not at all lessened. It was still a luscious dark red after an hour or so of washing and rinsing. It is a shame because it is wonderfully beautiful fabric.

Soak in vinegar hot dryer should help. I would be cautious about using in a quilt. For the cost of fabric we should not have these problems.

Retayne really does stop fabric from further bleeding . . .I've used it many times on very tricky dark dyed fabric with success. However, be aware it contains formaldehyde . . .not generally a problem as most fabrics are treated with it anyway. . .but as happened to another poster recently, allergies can develop following extensive exposure.

Just make a red all over quilt. Or red and black. Use some other color where the red bleeding won't be noticed.

I just bought Retayne yesterday to wash some batik's I bought at Joann's. I hope this works!!!

Retayne. Many quilt stores carry it (call first), and it's widely available online at Amazon, Dharma Trading, ProChem, etc.

There are two types of bleeding. One is from excess dye in the fabric. Fabric can absorb only so much dye and, if the manufacturer has not rinsed sufficiently, the excess will bleed out in the first washing.

When fabric doesn't stop bleeding, it means that the dye was not set properly. Retayne takes care of that (for most dyes, anyway) and sets any unset dye. Still, with a bleeder fabric like this, I would check after using Retayne and make sure that all the bleeding has stopped.

Contact Dharma Trading Company. They specialize in dying fabrics and have several different chemical "solutions" for this problem depending on what you are actually needing.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/index.html

You can call and talk to someone or look through their on-line selection. I prefer the person to person approach myself.

Thanks for the replies! I think this is a fabric that won't be used in any quilt of mine... just don't want to take the chance..
Too bad, wished I had known about it as I wouldn't have bought it... we shouldn't have to go through added expense and aggravation to use a "not cheap" fabric...

I would contact your seller and let them know about the problems that you are having so they can notify their supplier and then take it back to them for a refund. I definitely would not use it in a project. I had a black that did the same thing even after 7 washings!!

Oh by the way, I'm going to a Gees Bend quilt show next week!! Definitely won't be buying their fabric ;) - I noticed that Pottery Barn has the rights and is selling quilts in BG designs.

My LQS told me to press my fabric before I washed it to set the dye. You can use a dry or steam iron. I still used the color catchers when I wash my fabric. I had some maroon that did the same thing and salt also helps set the dye

Well, I tried the salt thing, didn't work, hot water, cold water, heat from a dryer, nothing has worked but the trash can...

Not going to waste my time.... good excuse to go shopping for more.

Thanks, I appreciate the reply..

When I have fabrics I'm concerned might bleed, I use Retayne. Years ago when I was making sweatshirt jackets for people, I used either salt or vinegar to retard the bleeding. However, I ran into a problem with some fabric I had treated. The client was very unhappy because it did bleed (red into white fabric), so I had to make her up another jacket at no charge because she didn't notice the bleed and tossed the jacket in the dryer. After this happened another time, I gave up and began using Retayne. Now I Retayne any fabric I use with strong colors... especially red.

Does the Retayne completely stop the bleed or do you have to still watch how it's laundered? Thanks

I honestly think I would forget it and go for another fabric. If it's a bleeder, you're taking a chance that it will come back even with the treatments.

HOW DO YOU TEST FOR BLEEDING?

I've had this problem before with some red fabric too. I used Retayne and a color catcher. Had to wash it three times before it stopped bleeding.

It's a good idea to test the fabric after using Retayne. Drop a small swatch into water and let it sit for several hours; there should be no transfer of dye into the water. After that, rub the damp swatch against a light fabric you might use in the quilt to see if any dye transfers from rubbing. It's rare, but there is an occasional fabric whose dye may not be completely set by Retayne. At that point you can either Retayne it again and test again, or just use the fabric for something else.

Retayne would not affect the way the fabric is washed later. If dye is unset, the dye might bleed more in hot water than in cold water. However, if Retayne has succeeded in setting the dye permanently, it should not bleed under any conditions (just like fabric that comes from the store and does not bleed).

IMO, it's still a good idea to use Synthrapol the first time a quilt is washed. Synthrapol does not set dye; it suspends unset dye particles in water so they do not settle into other fabrics. Some people use both Synthrapol and several color catchers.

You gave this info:
Retayne would not affect the way the fabric is washed later. If dye is unset, the dye might bleed more in hot water than in cold water. However, if Retayne has succeeded in setting the dye permanently, it should not bleed under any conditions (just like fabric that comes from the store and does not bleed).

My comment : PLEASE Note the manufacture of Retayne indicates that all fabrics treated must be washed every time in COLD water after treatment with Retayne.
I have had very good results using 2 teaspoons Retayne per yard with really dark or highly saturated colors. ( Manufacture says to use 1 teaspoon per yard of fabric.

To test place fabric ( can be just a scrap) in lukewarm water for at least 1 hour. If it is just a scrap I use a glass ( clear). Then look at the water in the glass holding a sheet of white paper behind it . See if there is a color change.
If you a using yardage fill the sink and check if the water color has changed.
You can also fully saturate the fabric in Lukewarm water and place on a white towel. Do roll it up and squeeze , check the towel for color.
You can alos take a scrap and use a scarp of white batting ( cotton .
The key is to get the fabric FULLY saturated with water. There is so much finishes on fabric that it takes lukewarm water and at least 20 mimutes to get all of the fibers saturated.
I soak for an hour just to be safe and swish it around several times Most you will see the color in the water before any further testing needs to be done.

I wonder how you can play with this fabric to create some other fabric with cool effects???? Where did you get it? I'd like to experiment...

I've seen where several people have suggested using vinegar. This works for me, but the one thing they didn't mention is to also use salt. It's the combo of vinegar and slat that sets the dye, not just vinegar alone. That's the least expensive way versus buying all the expensive alternatives.

Also, if you use this method, be sure to test it to make sure. Don't just take my word for it.

Salt in the water usually helps.

retayne, then synthropol, and always cold water. salt, vinegar or heat never worked for me.

Thanks! I just bought some Retayne. I have Synthropol but wasn't sure if I was using it right.

If I'm making up something with suspect fabric.. I first take a small swatch and place it in a glass of very hot water. If I see any color seeping into the water, I Retayne it following instructions in the bottle. After using the Retayne I rinse the fabric out and then put it into a tub of hot water and let it sit for another 10 minutes (to double check there is no leftover color (have never seen leftover color). Then I toss fabric into the dryer. The only thing I don't like about Retayne is it can be toxic to handle or breathe in the fumes. Nowadays I find I don't need to use Retayne like I did 10 years ago... and I can only assume it is because alot more of the manufacturers have listened to complaints about the bleed-through and seem to be fixing the problem before the fabric comes to market. I've gone from having to use Retayne 5–10 times a year to only once or twice in two years.

I would try to take it back and absolutely would not use it.

I know it is never good to "assume" - but I do assume that the recipient of a quilt will probably not have retayne, synthropol, or a color catcher "on hand" when/if that person wants/needs to wash a quilt.

Especially a child's quilt.

I have a question. I have a kit I purchased from Keepsake Quilting. It is all precut strips of batik fabric. Should I prewash these strips and how. Should I soak in Retayne?

When I have naughty fabric I rinse in the sink several times then put it in the washer and add Rytayne and the clorox color catchers.
Usually works.
Good luck.

If I think a fabric is going to bleed I put it in the sink with hot water.

I wouldn't prewash strips. They can shrink so that they are no longer exactly right for the kit. Most batiks now are colorfast, plus I would hope that a major company such as KQ is careful not to include a bleeding fabric in its kits. (That could be wishful thinking on my part.)

To make sure, however, it's a good idea to take a scrap of fabric (an inch or two off a selvedge is good) and drop it into a glass of hot water. You don't want to see dye bleed into the water. After a few hours in hot water, take the fabric out and rub it against a white fabric; you don't want to see any dye rub onto the lighter fabric. If it passes these two tests, the fabric is fine to use without prewashing.

As a safeguard, I always wash a quilt in Synthrapol the first time it is washed. After that, regular washing is fine.

I use lots of vinegar when washing fabric to keep it from bleeding.

Me too.