Washing red and white quilt top
 

I would like to wash this king-sized quilt top before I send it to my long arm lady. The red fabric was washed three times before I started piecing with it; however, a scrap that I test-washed today still bleeds red dye. What would be the best way to wash this quilt without having the red dye bleed into the white background? Thank you for your help.

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Oh my gosh, that quilt is Stunning!!!!!!!!! Isn't there a product called Synthopol (not sure of the spelling) that will prevent bleeding? I'm sure someone else can help you. I'm always afraid of reds and it's a shame because I love the color.
You did a fabulous job!!!

I made up a logcabin quilt made of blues, reds and whites. Once quilted I washed it using my color catcher sheet. Didn't notice the bleeding till after I pulled it from the dryer...Egads!!!!! Thought it was a goner but someone here told me to just wash it again using the color catcher and sure enough it came out with no bleeding and what did bleed prior was gone.

I never wash my fabrics but I do starch them so if any bleeding is going to happen I'll know about it then. I always use color catchers when I wash the quilts before I give them out as gifts cause I know the recipent would have a hayday if it happened to them so I try to alleviate the anxiety for them.

beautiful quilt! I wouldn't wash it before it is quilted. At some point when it needs washing, use a handful of "color catchers" and cold water.

That top is Spectacular!

I know that you will get many suggestions for what to do next - -

My suggestions "for next time" - I have now started to soak all my fabrics in hot water (I do let it cool down naturally) for at least three hours to see if the dyes are stable. (There was an article by someone somewhere that she let her fabrics soak even longer) - If the water changes color, I will change the water two or three times until I am comfortable enough with that piece to wash it with a load of white socks.

If the piece is still coloring the water with Kool-Aid intensity after several rinses - I will try to return it if I still have the sales receipt - I consider it to be faulty. If I don't have a receipt, I discard it. In the wastebasket. Not to be used.

Some fabrics color the water the moment they get wet. Some take longer. And some leave the water as clear as can be.

I have had at least one of every color be a bleeder. And I have had many of every color leave the water clear. I can't tell ahead of time what they will do.

Some people are willing to try Retayne or other dye-setting products which are used Before sewing the pieces together.

There are excess dye suspending or loose dye picker-uppers - but I have not used them.

I learned that "just washing" is not adequate when I sprayed some sizing on some red and some blue pieces of washed RJR fabrics (long time ago - maybe their dyes have changed since then) I did not appreciate the red and blue on the pale gray fabric I was using with them.

i would not wash it prior to quilting, either. too much of a chance of raveling beyond repair. the others have given good advice for washing afterwards

OMG! your quilt is gorgeous! Just send it over to me for "storage." I have the perfect bed to put it on. :D

I agree with the color catchers idea. I also agree with the idea of not washing it first. But do wash it after it is quilted. It will be much easier and less fragile then.

~ C

Absolutely do not wash it before it is quilted - make sure that your backing fabric is washed if you washed to top fabrics before sending it to the LAer.

I would not wash just the top. Too much risk for fraying etc.

I agree with all the other posters about not washing prior. the top is absolutely gorgeous. Please do tell your longarmer about the red being a possible bleeder. She will need to know in case marking is involved. Your LAQ will not want to use a water soluble marker.

What a beautiful quilt! Feathered stars are on my bucket list, as is the Ohio star. Who are the patterns by? Are they the star of Chamblie (spelling?) stars in the center? As others have said, I would wait and wash after quilted with the Synthopol. That being said, I once washed a quilt top because our dog had fleas and I was fanatical about cleaning everything. It did unravel a little but was salvageable. I had prewashed, though, with Retayne in hot water, although I don't think that would have affected the unraveling unless the Hot water tightened the weave.

That is a very pretty quilt!! don't have any answers, but have been reading others' answers...just wanted to say how pretty your quilt is...

Thank you so much for your advice. I will heed all of them, including not using washable markers and soaking red colors longer next time. I will stop washing my quilt top before sending it in for quilting. I do spend days cleaning up the frayed edges and resewing holes after washing my quilt tops; my poor back can attest to this. I will see if my quilt shop carries the Synthopol and Color Catchers. The pattern is from the Fall 2016 Issue of Quiltmaker; I can't remember the name, but it was designed by the magazine's editor. Thank you again!

no advice, just wanted to tell you how wonderfully beautiful your quilt is. such great work!

BTW, Sewdust, you can buy the Color Catchers at your local Walmart in the laundry section. Ours are near the fabric softener sheets. I'm sure you can find them where you buy your laundry products.

Spectacular quilt!

After it's quilted, when you do wash it using Synthrapol, be aware that you *must* use lots of water with the Synthrapol so any dye bleeds become very diluted. Also be aware that the quilt should be continually agitated; you do not want wet red fabric in contact with white fabric for any period of time. What I like to do is use the largest front loader at the laundromat for washing with Synthrapol. It uses enough water. The quilt needs to be removed immediately from the washer when done and either put into the dryer right away, or laid out flat to dry.

Although Synthrapol requires hot water to be completely effective, it is still pretty effective in warm water and even cold water. Since you already washed the red fabric several times, it should be fine to use warm or cold water with the Synthrapol.

Would love to see a photo of your quilt after the quilting is done!

I second Prism's advice to not let it lay wet with the colors touching. Listen for the washer to stop and get in the dryer right away. I have never used Synthapol, but have used 2 or 3 Color Catchers at once with success. A lovely quilt top.

I have had reds and blues that I threw out because it would not quit running. I think I would use the previously mentioned products, at my house would have to put it in the bathtub, the washer does fill up the way they used too! I figure the tub has lots more room. I have had to wash a top before quilting because I was careless. I did it in tub and tried not to agitate it too much. Worked out fine, not too many shredded threads.

After quilting I would take it to a laundromat and wash it with color catchers in one of the extra large machines made for comfortors so as to have more water to dilute any bleeding.

Beautiful quilt. Good luck and use lots of color catchers. Also see Jane Quilter's lengthy post about washing with Dawn.

I think there is some good advice re washing ... just coming in to say what a beautiful quilt this is!

I always use at least two color catchers when using red fabric, or any fabric that bleeds! Works for me! Lovely quilt!!

Oh, this is a beautiful quilt. I use color catchers a lot.

No suggestions but your quilt top is just fabulous. I love red and you've done such a wonderful job piecing it. Look at all those points! Good for you! I love your color choice. Red is the new neutral!:thumbup:

This is what you might end up with if you wash before quilting it.
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QUOTE=Sewdust;7868565]I would like to wash this king-sized quilt top before I send it to my long arm lady. The red fabric was washed three times before I started piecing with it; however, a scrap that I test-washed today still bleeds red dye. What would be the best way to wash this quilt without having the red dye bleed into the white background? Thank you for your help.

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fabulous piecing! You are definitely a master at this skill. I'd give my eye teeth (and my molars) to have that level of skill.

I think you've been given good advice about how to fix the bleeding fabric after it's been assembled into a quilt top.

My advice is for fixing bleeders before you cut into the fabric.

A lot of today's washers (especially the front loaders) simply do not use enough water to rinse dye completely out of fabrics. This is why many quilters will wash their fabric over and over and over again, a process I find both wasteful and slow. I fix my bleeders by putting about 4" of hot water in the bathtub and adding a drop of Dawn. (The amount of water varies with the amount of fabric - for instance, if I had 4 yards of fabric, I'd use more water.) Swish the fabric around and let it sit 10-12 hours, or overnight. Then toss it into the washer for a rinse-and-spin cycle. I've never had a fabric bleed after this process.

By the way, this is how dyers process their hand-dyed fabrics before using.

I made a double wedding ring quilt with some reds and washed the quilt. They did bleed. So after searcing the Internet, I tried a method several suggested. Fill the washing machine with cold water and 1/4 cup of Dawn platinum agitate it some to distribute the detergent. Put in the quilt and let it soak at least 12 hours. Spin the water out and I dried mine in the dryer to prevent as much bleeding as I could. This did take out the first bleeding. But there are few spots where it did bleed thru to the back along the stitching from the quilting. I would be tempted to make it a display quilt and never wash it. I called the dry cleaners and they said it could even bleed in dry cleaning. Sorry for your distress.

You have created a very beautiful quilt top!! I'd wash it with one or two Shout color catchers.

color catchers you can get at any grocery store in the laundry aisle. in a box. use several. Read directions on synthropol and ask more at the quilt store. good luck!! cold water for sure.and