Help with Bleeding
 

I bought 1 2/3 yards of a material while I was on a shop hop last week. I needed a red for borders on the quilt I am trying to finish. I tested it but there was no bleeding but decided I better wash it anyways. Boy did it bleed, the color catcher wasn't even pink, it was red. The manufacturer is STOF Quilters Basics Style #4518A. I can't remember the shop that I bought it at since I hopped through 11 stores. It kills me that I spent money on something that I can't use and now I probably don't have any recourse. I looked on line and I think it might be an oriental manufacturer. Material is sooo expensive now anyways and we have to pay the price if we want to quilt, but what about inferior material? Any suggestions?

You might try Retayne to set the color. Actually Stof is a Danish company, with a partnership with Hoffman. Their reputation is for a quality product. http://www.blogs.fabshopnet.com/blog...ffman-fabrics/ This article makes it sound like Hoffman is responsible for bringing the Stof Quilter's Basics collection to the US, so you might try contacting them if your fabric continues to bleed.

Red has always been one of those colors that just has a reputation for bleeding. It is not alwys confined to lower end fabrics. I have hade issues with Moda and their reds .. It just shows that sometimes even when you pay higher money you can still have that unpleasant surprise. I think as quilters if we aremore diligent in letting the manufactures know just how unhappy we are with fabrics that are not colorfast ... they might start to be more diilgent in quality control inspecting and requiring fabrics be colorfast.
As my Mom use to say "why is it we can put a man on the moon , but still can't make red fabrics that don't run" . I know some will say that its the water quality and the type of detergent that is used... but honestly put a soap recomendation on the end of the bolt if the dyes are that "reactive" to some detergents.
I would use Retayne to set the dye. But it just chaps me that when I purchase fabric it is not "cutting table ready".

Could you use it in a wallhanging that won't have to be washed? Sorry I can't help with any other suggestions.

My grandmother lived with my husband and I and our kids for a few years before she moved into a retirement home until her death at age 94. Anyway...she asked me if I would do a small load of wash for her...underwear. So...I had a red flannel nightgown that I wanted to wash...it was a year old and had been washed many times. I added it to her load of clothes. OMG...when I went to put the load into the dryer...all of her whites were pink. I had no clue what to do so I dried them, folded them and gave them to her never mentioning what happened. I guess I thought she was blind and would not notice. lol A few days later I was talking on the phone with my mother and she said...oh by the way I just wanted to tell you that your grandmother didn't appreciate her pink underwear. Mother said that grandma was mad at me but didn't want to say anything to me. My mother said to tell her that I would soak everything in Clorox and see if it would bleach out the red dye. It did work a little bit. That taught me a good lesson on mixing reds with any lighter fabrics.

Did you just wash it that one time? Sometimes reds need more than one go 'round before they stop bleeding. I always give mine three tries before I banish them to the non-washable bin.

How many times have you washed it? Sometimes it takes more than one wash, before colors stop bleeding.

I don't remember what component of the red dyes was banned quite a few years ago, but whatever that was, it is what had kept the dyes from running. There is the same issue with embroidery floss, and I was told back in the 80s that this was the problem, even with the expensive brands.

reds are just one of those colors- regardless of how expensive- the great quality- you should wash it until it does not bleed any more- generally 2-3 times will do it- you can also purchase & use Retayne- follow the instructions- some quilt shops carry it- or you can get it from the dye companies- like Dharma Trading Company- i wouldn't just decide that it is not a usable fabric- it just takes more work when it's red.

I would give it a few more washes and rinses -

Sometimes it does take several dunkings before the water runs clear.

Can you go through your receipts and try to figure out which shop you bought it from?

In my opinion, fabrics that bleed after several washings are defective and should be returned (or at least try to return them)

Other colors than red can also be bleeders- yellow - an intense one - a Moda marble - the red, green, and brown from the same line/group were fine!!! - an orange, a green, a blue, a turquoise, a purple, a black

It's not often that I get a stinker - just often enough to 'never assume'

What is even more aggravating - I had washed a royal blue and a dark red - water was fine - then I used starch or sizing on it - and then they bled!!!!! I think they were RJR fabrics (maybe 15 years ago now)

The Moda red that spilled color was only about two years old.

I've had VIP/Cranston reds leave the water absolutely clear - so I do not go by brand or price point.

I can deal with excess dye that washes out in a couple of dunkings. I mind - A LOT - fabric that won't stop bleeding.

It makes as much sense to me to have to treat commercially dyed fabrics with Retayne or Synthrapol as it does to have to paint a new car after I buy it.

(I know - I've used that line before - I haven't come up with a better one yet)

It the fabric is truly a stinker - I discard it - like shred it and put it in the trash. I don't want me to accidentally use it or anyone else to get stuck with it.

Why is it you think you cannot use it? I've never given up on a fabric, I just keep on washing in hot water until the bleeding has stopped. I have yet to see a fabric "fade".