I did not wash the dark navy backing fabric, although the LQS lady said I might want to do that. I wanted it quilted right away, and now I have it home. I washed a scrap of the dark navy and it bleeds badly. I would like to do as little damage as possible.....so should I wash/rinse in cold water with the dye catchers? Then set with vinegar and salt? I am sewing down binding now. I need to get this to a brand new big brother very soon. Can you help?

I'm no expert but you might want to set it first and then wash with the color catchers. Perhaps setting it first will reduce the amount of bleed.

those color catchers are a wonderful thing in my mind. I washed a quilt with red in it that had not been washed before... that color catcher came out of the washer the most beautiful color of red and then quilt... well it did not have one bleed mark on it........

I will have to find some of those color catchers......Haven't spotted them as yet....Thanks for the advice.

vinegar only works to set acid dyes...if it is not an acid dye you are only wasting vinegar.
i would experiment with the scrap you have to find an answer putting synthropol in the water (bought in quilt shops and other textile type craft/hobbie shops) it will keep the dye from getting on the other fabrics as you wash it away. the color catchers help too- but i would use the synthropol in the water (it is a detergent)

color catchers are in the laundry isle of the grocery store- come in a box that looks like bounce sheets...is usually near the shout- spot cleaners/stain removers.

Thanks for the information. I truly appreciate it. I will call around tomorrow to see if I can locate some. And the color catchers. thank you again.

Thank you. I truly appreciate the information. Will try to locate some synthropol tomorrow.

I found the color catchers on the laundry aisle at walmart near the stain removers at our local store.
I like the color catchers. I threw a bunch of dark color fabric in with some white background with bright red and orange design fabric and the white came out white.

thanks for the good info!!!

I washed one of my bow tucks bags and put about 4 of those color catchers in the wash. It did great.