hehehehe! Me too! heheheheh!!

Fay,

Retayne is a product that "sets" dye rather than "catching" it. The only place I have seen it sold other than on-line is LQS, and then sometimes I have to ask to have it ordered. Others on the board may be able to tell us some other sources.

I use it on all reds -- I just do a whole washer load at one time. Other colors I test first and then Retayne if needed.

Dayle

Thanks for the photos. I prewash fabric that I use in baby quilts so there are no chemicals, etc but don't prewash for my quilts. You've convinced me to just do it for all my fabrics.

A picture is worth a thousand words!!! Thanks for the visual - I'm going to prewash from now on!

Question.........has anyone had the colors ever run using cold instead of lukewarm water when washing?

Yes, I have. Reds and blacks mostly, and a few darker blues...batiks particularly. I honestly believe it's the wet, not the temp. I test by just wetting with a Q-tip to see if the dye transfers before I go to the expense of treating with Retayne. If it doesn't, I just prewash as usual.

Thanks, ghostrider. The reason I asked is that I generally do not prewash unless it is for a swap that I am a part of. I usually just complete the quilt and wash it in cold water with a couple of color catchers and have never had a problem. I like your Q-tip method. Thanks again.

I prewash all my fabric in at least warm water. Why? Because I want all the bleeding, shrinking, and possible fading to happen before I invest a huge amount of time cutting it and making it into a quilt. And really, I suspect any quilt that leaves my door will be going into a washer with warm or hot water in its future. I have no control of how the owner will care for it. So, I try to make sure it's toughened up a bit and won't self destruct once it leaves my house:>

Has anyone every used one of the color catchers they sell in the laundry isle? Not sure of the name brand

Oh wow; I think I should buy stock in Retayne!