Using Black Fabric
 

I've been looking at the Pictures section and have seen some gorgeous quilts. One I'd like to try has blocks outlined with black fabric. Is pre-washing the dark fabric enough to keep it from running?

I think there's a product called synaprol. I will stand to be corrected as I'm probably wrong but I always pre-wash everything and also use the color catchers.

I have used Kona blacks on several quilts. I prewash the fabric, and I have had no problem with running.

I'm not sure about the bleeding issue. However, I want to recommend Michael Miller's Jet Black fabric if you want the truist (is that even a word?), richest, deepest black. The hand of the fabric is much nicer than Kona black (which I have also used), which is another benefit.

What I recommend is testing a small square of the black fabric first. Drop into a glass of water and leave for several hours to see if any dye bleeds into the water. After that, take the dampened fabric and rub it against any whites or light-colored fabrics that will be in the quilt to see if dye transfers that way (this type of dye transfer is called "crocking"). If the black fabric passes both tests, I wouldn't hesitate to use it without prewashing.

I do, however, always take the precaution of washing the finished quilt the first time with Synthrapol in the largest laundromat front-loader I can find. That takes care of any small bleeds from all of the fabrics in the quilt.

Thank you all for the advice! Greatly appreciated.

Michael miller black is a wonderful black. However, I strongly recommend washing this fabric before cutting. In my experienceS, it shrank over two inches in width.

Good to know, bearisgray! Thank you.

Keepsake Quilting has a wonderful Amish Black, that I love to use.

Shrinkage is greatest in a fabric that is washed on its own. Once it has been moderately quilted to batting, batting takes control of shrinkage. That is, batting will not allow the fabric to shrink more than the batting shrinks. This does not apply when quilting lines are far apart. For example, if quilting lines are 10" apart then a fabric could shrink 1/2" in those 10". I like to quilt closer than most (no more than 3" between quilting lines, and usually less) so fabric shrinkage has never been an issue for me.

I use black a LOT in my quilts. I don't prewash, and with a color catcher or two I don't have any trouble with dye runs. I'm not really positive that a color catcher is really necessary but it's an old habit; it's rare for me to catch any dye from black commercially dyed fabric these days ...

the person who mentioned the Synthropol.....it is a product used in the wash to keep dye that may come out of fabric from getting on other fabrics in the wash- it does not stop the fabric from bleeding in the first place- just keeps the dye suspended in the water- protecting the fabrics around it- it is necessary to use it as the directions state (washing in HOT water- which many people do not really want to do) often used after a quilt is finished & you may be afraid one of the fabrics in the quilt might run & ruin surrounding fabrics- then the synthropol is put in the wash to help keep that from happening. if you are pre-washing yardage just wash- with regular detergent- check the rinse water- if there is dye in the water- rewash & rewash until there is no more bleeding. good quality *like the Michael Miller and Kona blacks don't tend to bleed- but there is always a chance with a deeply saturated color for some excess dye to come out in the wash so always a good idea to either pre=wash or at least test before cutting the fabric.

In my experience, it sometimes takes more than a five - second dip in water to see if a swatch of fsbric has excess dye or is a bleeder.

I leave the fabric swatch in the glass of water for several hours. Dye bleeds show up as wisps of color in the water. The idea is to weed out fabrics that either (1) did not have dye set properly by the manufacturer or (2) have a lot of excess dye that the manufacturer did not rinse out adequately. These are the fabrics that need to be prewashed or, if the dye bleeding cannot be stopped, discarded.

Most fabrics these days are colorfast. It seems to me to be unnecessary to wash all fabrics just to make sure a "bleeder" fabric doesn't make it into a quilt. It's easier to test for bleeder fabrics and treat just those fabrics differently.

Regarding Synthrapol, it does require hot water to be effective. All of the quilts I make are for use in the home, so I have no problem washing them in hot water in the largest front-loader I can find at the laundromat (for their first washing only). Knock on wood, I've never had a quilt suffer damage from this treatment.

I would probably change my routine if I were making a show quilt that was not going to get heavy use in a home. In that case, I might prewash all the fabrics and skip the first washing so that the quilt looks pristine in the show. Considering my age, I have serious doubts *that* is ever going to happen! :D

I've never had blacks run.. however I did find out that all blacks are not equal so be sure you have enough before you start of ONE shade. They may look the same until you stand back and look again and they will surprise you at how different they can be and still be black!

I use Kona black a lot. I never prewash or add color catchers and have never had a bleeding issue.

I love the look of black but some blacks tend to fade just with time.

But I want to share with all of you that recently I purchased a piece of "craft" fabric that I was reasonably certain was going to bleed. It was only a yard so was easy to handle. Not only did it bleed, it "hemorrhaged". I washed it by hand several times and the bleeding continued. I knew I couldn't use it for anything that way so explored the internet. There was suggestion of using white vinegar--that didn't work. But I resorted to table salt. I use a Folgers "can" for various chores around the house so that was the size that the yard of fabric would fit into. Added a handful of plain table salt to the water and let it soak. It worked!! The color seems to be set and the piece of fabric is beautiful. Give it a try to see if it will work for you, too!

The problem fabric isn't necessarily the one that bleeds. The problem fabric is the one that picks that dye up.

I love using black because it creates such a contrast. However, i have found that black is not just black. Some black is bluish and some reddish. If you are using black, make sure you have enough black for the whole project because it is hard to match. Who would have thought it??

I stopped using black and other dark solids and have turned to tone on tones. I used a solid black in quilt, and while it had a lovely hand, it picked up every fuzzy known to man! I find the tone on tones a better fit. They still 'read' solid, but the fuzzies are not as noticable.

I just read an article about fabrics bleeding and it is the best I have seen to date. She did some testing on her own and posted her findings.

http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_...read-this.html

and an FAQ post as well:

http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_...d-results.html

note that this is what has worked for her, but its always helpful to see how others solve a problem. I am bookmarking this for later use! I know I will need it someday!

I am aligned with the tribe that advises using color catchers. I always prewash before a fabric is allowed to join its fellows in my stash and I always use color catchers for bright/dark colors. It may take several washings (I almost went through a whole box with an extra-wide backing fabric in a dark blue print from FabricDepot.com.)

I use black all the time because it causes things to "pop". I don't pre wash, but I have never had it bleed when I wash it.