Seeing is Believing - Pre-washing
 

There have been many posts about the pre-washing fabrics with opinions both for and against. Some say pre-wash everything, others say don't bother, and still others say that you only have to worry about colors bleeding in less expensive fabrics and in batiks.

Today I tested 2 LQS pieces of predominately black fabrics from Moda before using them. You can see the result in the picture. After seeing the sink full of black water, I immediately used Retayne with good results. After the 20 minute treatment, I rinsed the fabric, and the water ran clear.

This is my "show and tell" for the day.

Dayle

Thanks for the photos. For those who believe it can't/won't happen.

Wow, that is very interesting. Thank you.

I wash mine with color catcher and if any fading time for Retayne before using.

That is what my pure white dishpan looked like when I hand washed over 200 pieces of batiks recently. I put some lukewarm water in the pan with a drop or two of liquid soap and about 50% of the pieces bled - I rinsed in cool water until it was clear. I had to throw away two pieces that would never stop bleeding - one was green and the other was dark blue. Not worth the trouble of using Retayne, etc.

OMG, for the first split second that I saw the picture I thought there were FROGS in that sink, LOL!!!

Jan in VA

Looks like a wringer washer with a load of denim in it.

Some things are going to bleed no matter how many times you wash them or what you set them with. For me, it is dark flannels. I have a love affair with flannel and red in particular. That stuff always bleeds no matter who the manufacturer is and how you treat it.

interesting about the comment by MaryLane about the flannels- i've been an avid user of flannels for 40 years---and have never had one bleed---and you say all of yours do---i wonder what the difference is? mine shrink-but i've never had a color run using flannels- and as long as i buy lqs fabrics the only ones i ever really have a problem with are darks/ like red's & blacks- or handdyes/batiks- i've never had others bleed- i have though had some fade a bit with time.

I'm having a problem with burgandy flannel .I bought nice quality sheets rom Kohls.. and wanted to use them as backing for quilts.. I washed them about a dozen times, and then used Retayne.. and now I want to retest them..
Barri

I've never heard of Retayne. Where do you find it? Do you use it for all fabric or just the ones that "run?"

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!

I have had a problem with all Joann fabrics any darker than pastels, especially the solid flannels.

I use the Bounce color catchers and always wash in cold water and send instructions to the new owner to never wash in hot or warm water. What they do with it after they get it and the instructions is out of my hands....lol.

I was talking about red flannels in particular. Mine are quilt shop quality but they run badly. I wash flannels and batiks. I have washed others in the past but never had any color in the water. I now use color catchers when I wash the finished quilt. I will say, though, that I don't use navy, black, purple or burgundy.

I'm a committed pre-washer.

Your post reminded me of the time I was 16 and wore a brand new pair of jeans to a 20 mile charity walk. Back then :) you couldn't get them prewashed. Turns out it rained all day but we walked the full 20 miles. My legs were blue for a week.

This would be one of the two reasons why I generally pre-wash everything. Color bleed tends to be less of an issue with lighter colors and when you wash in cool water. I've done a measured test on the shrink factor of Kona cotton and was surprised at the amount of shrinkage. I love the crinkled look, but that can be achieved just by using cotton batting.

All of my quilts go to individuals who will be machine washing and machine drying. I always warn against hot or overly warm water, but I've seen enough colored water come out of my machine to encourage me to always prewash and except for the Kona cotton, I by all my fabric at the LQS.

You have a very clean sink!

I have always pre-wash my material both for the dye effect and shrinkage !
peace

Since the LQS told me not to prewash, I haven't been doing it. My DD washed my GS's quilt with the color catcher and, fortunately, it did not run or bleed. After reading this post, I think I will prewash my mid to dark colors and definitely do the Q-tip test (brilliant!) on all my colors. I do have a couple of questions, though: how do you keep the fabric from fraying and tangling in the washer and, after washing, do you starch your fabric before cutting, since there is no sizing left in it. Also, if you starch, what kind of starch is recommended? Thanks, I'm still learning!

I find the cheaper fabrics I buy do not bleed or very little. I wash all my fabrics as soon as I get them home. Dry and fold them, wash finished quilt with color catchers, 2 if quilt is large. I try to remember to tell the recipient it is clean, I know most people wash them like they would a sheet.

To keep from fraying, trim cut ends with pinking shears. I hope someone else can solve the tangling problem! As far a starching goes, I use StaFlo liquid, 1 part starch to 2 parts water in a spray bottle and starch as I iron the fabric. I've also used Magic Sizing, but StaFlo is a lot cheaper.

Every red, blank, navy, dark color i chrck for coloc bleeding. This os why! Perfect idea to share!

WOW! I am sure to prewash now.

I pre-wash adamantly -- too much work goes into a quilt to take a chance. I have not, however, heard of Retayne... I'll have to check it out.

Thanks for the post.

I had a piece of raspberry red fabric that was the perfect color but it would never stop bleeding. By time I'd rinsed it several times it wasn't raspberry red anymore. I tossed it.

YES!! I always prewash, but was part of a BOM for a year at a fabric store. The small pieces of fabric were given to us each month and were just barely big enough to make the square, so no preshrinking was possible. It took a year and some months to finish and hand quilt it. When washed in cold water, the cranberry red (Moda) bled into the beige. I have put it away and haven't looked at it for over 5 years. Maybe i should try washing it in cold water with a color catcher? I don't think those were around when I made the quilt. I never buy batiks...like the look, but don't like the fading/bleed out.

Wow that scares me, I never pre-wash. I will now, what do you do with the jelly roll's? Do you wash it after it is pieced?

Great visual demo! That is why I wash everything before I use it.

I don't trim, clip, serge, or stay stitch the edges of new fabric. Way too much trouble. I keep a pair of scissors on top of the dryer and trim any long loose threads after the wash cycle (top loader) before fabrics go in the dryer. I make sure they're flat before tossing them in the dryer, too.

It works perfectly for me. Haven't had a tangled, wrinkled, knotted fabric in years of prewashing everything I buy from fat quarters to double digit yardage. The bonus is I get to use the 'thread trash' as embellishment for art quilts.

I use "Shout" brand colour catcher - find it works well, but I want to try "Retayne" since I like the idea that it sets the colour rather than "catching" it.

I use pinking shears on the cut ends to help prevent fraying. It doesen't prevent it all, but it does help. I do prewash almost everything with detergent and color catchers. I just made an OhioStar in red and white and had to wash the reds 4 times before the color catcher didn't pick up any more color. Better there then after all the work and quilting!!

I've never used Retayne but I am curious to try it.