need advice re: prewash backing?
 

Hello all... so here's the dilemma... I pieced the front of a little boy quilt with a tan background and blue, black, and red blocks... (too detailed to explain whole quilt... but there are several color-filled fabrics.) All the fabric is high quality. I did NOT pre-wash the fabric. (I can definitely see pros and cons about prewashing and, right now, I'm wishing I had!!)

so here's my question... yesterday, finally bought the backing material... my sweet DDIL helped me choose from the somewhat limited selection at my LQS (in a rural town...) (the quilt is for her sister's new baby boy... but we didn't make it baby-ish...) and she chose a dark blue batik... yes...

so..... I was almost ready to go ahead and prewash the backing... but decided to ask your help first! I have Re-tayne and have used it successfully before, along with the color-catchers... Do you think I should wait until the quilt is finished and then use those products? OR go ahead and prewash the backing?

help????? and THANK YOU!!!

You could test the scraps from the top of the quilt to see if they run. You know the batik will. Heard somewhere on the board that you are not supposed to use retayne on a completed quilt. Good luck.

Do it now with retayne. Retayne is for commercially dyed fabric. Synthropol is for hand dyes. Batiks are known for bleeding for many pre washings. Keep washing til clear.

Thank you!! That's just what I wanted to hear... Off to find the Retayne!!

Yes, definately pre-wash

Both Retayne and Synthrapol can be used on commercial dyed fabrics. The difference is that Retayne sets the color, so you need to use it before you combine the fabrics or it will set colors all over the place. Never use Retayne on a finished quilt. Synthrapol suspends the dye particles in the water so they won't settle on the fabric. It can be used on a finished quilt, or on fabrics before they are put in a quilt. In your case, since the fabrics in the top were not pre-washed, I would test the batik to see if it bleeds. Not all of them do. But be sure to wash the completed quilt with Synthrapol and/or color catchers until the water runs clear before giving it to a baby.

The only way I can remember it is "R" comes before "S" so use Retayne to prewash and Synthropol afterwards on a finished quilt.

You guys (sorry...western OK colloquial language...) are the BEST!!! I'm making notes on this to go in my "must remember" folder!!! Thanks again!! ...and keep those important bits of info coming!!!

Here is info about Retayne vs. Synthropol http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/home.php?cat=323