It bled more than any fabric I've ever washed. I washed it twice and added three rinses and there was still a hint of tinge to the water. (I agitate by hand but use the machine.) I added white vinegar to two of the rinses and dried the fabric in the dryer.

Now the deep red fabric is a quilt back--and there's a bright yellow binding... and lots of white with blacks in the top... and I need to wash it before giving it as a gift (basting spray used).

So... do you think if I add some vinegar to the wash water, and use two color wash sheets, it'll be fine? Did drying it set the color more?

I have time to read replies because I need to sew the binding on by hand...

Do you have any scraps of it and the other fabrics left?

If yes, put them all together in a jar - add some detergent and water to it - shake and let set for awhile -

Come back in an hour or so - and see what happens.

Some fabrics seem to be resistant to picking up stray dye molecules. Others seem to be magnets.

If the colors seem okay after setting for a while, you are good to go.

If not okay - do what the experts suggest.

As far as that goes - if you did not wash the black and whites or other fabrics - some of them may also have issues.

I think it's Synthrapol that's suggested to pick up stray dye.

Can you use one of those color catchers when you wash it? I hear they really work well.

I wash all fabric before using it... so I'm safe there. The color wash sheets work great--but it was all red and it was still in the water after five cycles...

I'll try the detergent trick. :-D

Use a color catcher sheet. They work real well.

I'll probably use two color catcher sheets!! :wink

Four fabrics for the quilt are soaking in detergent now... the red, the yellow, a white, and a green.... and the clock ticks. I get dishes done while I wait...

vinegar is not doing anything to remedy your problem- vinegar only sets acid dyes- which are not used on cottons---so no point in wasting more vinegar.
synthropol in the water will keep dye in the water from getting on other fabrics-
color catchers also help collect the dye in the water
it is important to remove it right away- don't let it sit wet touching itself-
you can usually find synthropol in quilt shops or stores such as joannes- or hobby lobby.

I agree with washing it with Synthrapol and lots of color catchers. This combo should catch any remaining loose dye particles so they can't settle into other fabrics.

Next time wash a bleeder fabric like that in Retayne! Retayne permanently sets color. A few fabrics need 2 washings in Retayne. You never want to use Retayne on a finished quilt such as yours, though, as it will permanently set any unwanted bleeds into other fabrics. At this point your best choice is Synthrapol and *lots* of color catchers (I'd probably use an entire box!).

I agree Sythropol is the way to go ! Once a quilt is finished Retayne should not be used. They are two very different products .
Vinegar is not effective on cotton fabrics, the only benifit is the actual prewashing , you would have the same results if you had not added vinegar.

I've never heard of the stuff. Thanks! Hope Jo-Ann's has it!

Thanks for the info on the other products, too!

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...

I've read all the replies so far---many good suggestions. Interested to hear what happened in the last wash!!!???
Good luck, Kutnso

It's been a busy morning...chores...got hubby off to work...wrapped and packed b-day gifts for a friend...showered...now headed in to finish... will report back as soon as I have news.

To tell you the truth I don't measure, just turn on hot water, open the little metal spigot and pour about 4 'circles' I'll have to go to Fabricville and check the Dylon packages to see what they recommend. I can't remember offhand. Wonder if there's a recipe online. I see you're from Quebec ?the city or prov? - I'm in Montreal - do you go to the annual CQ?

would you please let us know how it turns out after the wash I had a green that did that and was scared to use it for anything so would like to know how yours turns out after washing Thanks

Washer is filling now... I found spots where I had to add quilting...


Added--so far so good--I put six sheets in and none had the slightest pink... I only washed it on a 4 min gentle cycle and I'm spinning it well... rinsing coming....

I HATE washing quilts--it seems cruel. lol

Added again: some of the sheets were pinkish in the rinse..so I added two more. I didn't see any red in the yellow. I let it rinse half way once--agitating by hand between machine work, then spun it and rinsed it a bit again only agitating by hand. Final spin now...

In the dryer now--I didn't see any red in the yellow binding! I'll do a full inspection once it's dry. Needs to be wrapped and delivered at 4:00 this afternoon!

Hi Maurene
I'm in Quebec city and quite new to quilting. My SIL lives in St Hubert and she is very much involved in quilting and has been for the last 20 years (at least) and she is only 49 yo. she's the one who motivated me into trying to learn

I have not used my green fabric yet as I'm still working on another one... I might wash and wash and soak it some more lolll
I have never been to the annual CQ

Wow, so much great information thanks for the thread!

I had a deep red fabric that I got at Walmart that blead really bad and finely put it in hot water and added ebsonsalts and it set the die finely.

Almost dry--it's FINE!!!! Even though the sheets turned pink, it didn't mean the color was bothering the quilt. I did wash this fabric many times before using it... and the water was still tinged with the last wash. but that's fine. When I think about it, when sheets are used in regular wash--color from clothes still comes out.

Happy dance!! I just made a card for her with my photos and will wrap it soon!

Thanks for all the help.

I remember someone saying that they also give a boxe of Color catchers with the new quilt ... loll

When I was a bride of about3 weeks I mistakenly washed my favourite red blouse with underwear - my husbands included. Everything came out a lovely shade and hue of pink. He said, "Creative laundering by B. Maurene White Elliott (my newly married name, I kept my maiden name and added his family name). He bravely wore his pink underwear, maybe imagining other husbands had creative laundresses too!

What a great idea!! Going now to post pics!

No advice from me, but I'm sure glad you asked the question, becasue you are getting some very helpful answers.
Good Luck with washing your quilt!

Agreed!
So glad that your final wash was okay....looking forward to pictures. What a wonderful gift....Congrats on a job well done.
:thumbup:

Here's the final product: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-142537-1.htm

I just looked. Absolutely stunning. I love it and know she will too. Thanks for posting it for us. Gives me ideas too but will probably skip the red batiks. LOL. And it's my favorite color. I had to look again....WOW

beautiful quilt! Glad it washed with no problem! she will love it!

Did you try using Retayne to lock in the color? It supposes to help with bleeding.

Nice to meet you, happy quilting, am sure it will become a great joy, especially if you have a sister to share the passion with. Will look up Courtepointe Quebec to see if any guilds in Quebec city + fwd info to you - it's fun to visit and you learn so much

Here it is: http://cqq.ca/ maybe you'll finish something to enter in the exhibition! Have fun exploring their site and photos.