I purchased 6 yards of solid red Kona cotton. I prewashed it and it bled terribly. I continued the washings with a dye catcher, in fact, I think I must have washed it at least six times now and the dye cloth still is coming out bright pink. I need to use this fabric to make a flag quilt for a soldier who is coming home from Iraq later this summer. I tried adding white vinegar to the last two loads, but it is still bleeding. Is there a remedy for this? I apologize if someone has asked this question before...I am sure it has already been discussed.
Thanks a bunch.
Nancy
www.quiltflower.blogspot.com

I wonder if you can return it to the store you bought it from - you may not be the first to report a bad bolt.

How about calling/emailing the manufacturer?

Fill your washing machine with the hottest water available and then let you fabric soak over night. Add a strong detergent and if there is any colour left it in the fabric it SHOULD be colourfast.

something definetly wrong if it is still bleeding after all that washing, would definetly not use in a quilt.

I am not an expert by any means, but there is a product called Retayne that you add to the wash that is supposed to fix the color. Maybe this would work for you. I got it at my LQS but it is available online also.

Good luck.

Kona is generally well behaved. Try returning it to the store (with the sales slip).
I would consider it defective. If the store won't refund your money, try contacting Kona.

At any rate, don't use it if you can't get it to stop bleeding.

I have come across a very few fabrics that simply won't quit losing dye. Which is why I'm a member of the wash-before-cutting group.

Don't have any other advice but I have about 6 yards of fabric for the back of my daughter's quilt that is BRIGHT red with BRIGHT white apples on it. I haven't washed it yet and I'm afraid to. I got dye catchers but still afraid that the apples are going to turn pink (and she hates pink/flowery/girly stuff).

I would say that the majority of the fabrics that I have with red in them have good manners. I would guess that less than 5% have been bleeders.

Off hand, I can't think of any color that has been completely immune from bleeding - other than white and pale cream.

I would be more willing to have a disaster with that fabric at this stage of the process than after it has been incorporated into the quilt.

I don't think I saved my sales receipt. :(((

Use Retayne. It should set the dye. Quilt shops that cater to dyers carry it; otherwise it is widely available online. Amazon has it:
http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Retayne-.../dp/B001HZOZGW