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Originally Posted by quiltincin
This thread has been a great discussion and very educational.
I used the Synthrapol to wash my completed quilt, using as much boiling water as I could and resetting the temp on the water heater to the highest level and was finally able to reach 140 degrees. Unfortunately my quilt had some bleeding of the purple into the aqua, but only in a few areas and only one area "sticks out" and is very noticeable. I didn't see it until after I dried the quilt... I think I read the directions wrong and rinsed it with cold water...did I set the running color by using cold instead of warm? Suggestions? My Dh says I should let well enough alone and just give the quilt to our niece, but I'm worried when she washes it, it will bleed more...??? I suspect that the bleeding is actually staining, whereby hydrolized dye molecules (dye molecules that have bonded to water molecules) became lodged into the fibres of the adjoining area. If my theory is correct, then the stained areas will lighten with each successive washing (in warm or even cold water) will dislodge some of them. Eventually they will all be gone. I vote for your DH's suggestion. Maybe wash the quilt one more time on the ordinary warm or cold setting of your washing machine, then give it to your niece. After all, you don't want to fuss with this quilt until it turns into a gift for her retirement party! |
I use color catchers in my wash. You would be surprised to see how red the catcher is after being washed with my 10 years old sheets that were washed at least 100 times. I believe in color catchers. I know they work since my husband's undershirts are no longer pink. Lol!
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Originally Posted by quiltincin
(Post 3614352)
My understanding is that once you use the Retayne to fix or set the colors, the final owner of the quilt can wash normally. Perhaps someone else can chime in here to correct me if I'm wrong?
I'm asking how to get the water up to 140 degrees as I have a batik quilt with purple and aqua and I forgot to wash both fabrics before quilting, so I want to use Retayne to set the colors, so my quilt and all my hard work won't be ruined! Plus its a wedding gift for my niece....ack! I can't believe I forgot to wash the fabrics! If its a quilt I am giving as a gift I am reluctant to trust the recipient will always always use cold water to wash. Using warm or hotter water will remove the Retayne and you are back to a potential bleeding situation. So I wash the fabrics or rinse , till the water runs clear with warm to hotish water. As for getting the water to 140 , I use a stainless pot on the stove and keep swishing the fabric . For large amounts of fabric I found a old canning pot at a garage sale. |
The directions for the Retayne say to use for fabrics which might bleed...will help set in the color. Synthrapol says will help pull out excess dyes, such as those used in hand-dyed fabrics like batiks. This is how I've used them.
I was intrigued by the use of the Retayne for all fabrics across the board prior to use, and for the use of Synthrapol once a quilt is completed. Nevertheless, here is a link to the products' page which gives instructions on their uses: http://www.softexpressions.com/softw...tCareProd.html |
This is very good information, just what I needed.
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