Jo-Ann's doesn't carry it in this store--just on-line, and the closet place that has it is 40 min away. So, since nothing bled in the detergent experiment, if the person who's getting this quilt needs to meet with me in the next few days, it'll be just color catchers... lots of them. I feel better about it now... the yellow was fine.

Thanks for the help!

Please let us know how it turnes out!!!

Thanks. I found out the receiver of the gift left today!! :-( Her chemo starts Friday and she wanted to start in VA rather than here. Her daughters will be with her. I'm meeting her husband tomorrow because he leaves Saturday... it's safer than mailing it.

Binding is half sewed on! I'll wash it tomorrow morning with LOTS of color catch sheets!! :thumbup:

Fill the washer before you put it in, use several color catchers and move it to the dryer as soon as the washer finishes. Good luck.

Thank you!! I was thinking about the best order tonight!! I'll follow your idea!

Great thread. I learned so much from reading everyone's ideas. I have never been a pre-washer but with todays batiks and such, I am starting and I have a box of color catchers ready to use. Also have Retayne so nice to know not to use it once the quilt is done. Thanks everyone for the ideas and suggestions.

I think they say to use synthropol when the quilt is done and to use Retayne for fabric before making your quilt top. I got synthropol from Dharma Trading Co. on the Internet.

I'm headed out for chores...then I have less than half the binding to go... then the WASH!!

Does anybody use salt as a fixative. I find that very effective - I don't use a recipe but there's one on a dye package/ Whenever I get a new piece of cotton or linen clothing or fabric I test it in really hot water. If it runs I wring it out, make up another hot sink full of salt water, immerse it in that for about 5 minutes, let it sit another 5 minutes, rinse out the salt since it probably is not good to iron fabric with salt in it, let it semi dry, then iron it. This seems to be pretty effective. I bet others have more scientific accurate recipes for salt baths....

Maurene
How much salt do you use in a sink?

I have some yardage of green fabrics and red fabrics that I must have soaked, washed, rinsed, dried, ironed so many times. They soaked in vinegar, salt, I used color catchers but still, the rinse water is not clear. It is some nice fabrics that I bought in a LQS on my trip to the States last April. It is owned by a knowned quilter who has written many quilting books so I figure it is good quality fabrics.

and I do not want to not use it in a quilt...