Why do I keep doing this?
 

I've had a quilt top that needed a border adding to it for quite some time now, and decided that today was the day. I had already decided that I needed to do a black border and thought that I didn't have any black fabric. I suddenly remembered today that I did in fact have a whole bunch of black fabric that I bought to make another quilt that I've been putting off for a while...so I grabbed it out of the bag and began making my borders...about halfway through I suddenly realised that I hadn't prewashed the black fabric! I carried on because at that point I didn't really fancy ripping out the stitches, and if I washed the cut pieces they would unravel and be too small...
So now I have a lovely looking quilt top with lovely borders...but I'm scared to wash it! The centre of the quilt is really bright, and I really don't want to ruin it!
Is this something that I can get around by using colour catchers? Is there some way I can soak it in the bathtub without it ruining the rest of the quilt top?
As the title suggests, this is not the first time I've made this mistake! When will I learn?!?

I don't pre wash fabrics. I use several color catchers each time I wash a new quilt, in case -- and most of the time there IS extra dye, which is caught by the color catchers. I don't dry a quilt until I've looked it over carefully to make sure that all is good and no spots. Have never had a problem. Someday that may change, but I've been quilting for nearly 40 years and before color catchers I'd throw in an old white t shirt or something else that's cotton, and that worked the same way.

I prewashed some blacks the other day and they ran a lot, color catchers were not the answer. I put the fabrics in a large sink with hot water and Retayne, then rinsed in cold, and that solved the problem. I did the same with a red and white finished quilt in the bathtub, since the red was running, and I had washed it several times before I put it in the quilt. Retayne in the tub might be the way to go if you are concerned.

Don't wash it until it is quilted. I don't prewash fabrics. Instead I take my finished quilt to the laundromat and wash it using Synthrapol in their largest front-loader. The large front-loader uses plenty of water to dilute any dye bleeds, and the Synthrapol suspends any loose dye particles so they dont' have a chance to settle into other fabrics. The key to this working well is to use a *lot* of water and Synthrapol in the water.

Do ***NOT*** use Retayne on a finished quilt! Retayne will permanently set any dye bleeds. Retayne is what you use on a bleeder fabric to get the bleeding to stop.

I've just had a little leftover scrappy soaking in a glass of water for 40 minutes and the water hasn't discoloured at all...so I'm thinking I might just get away with this one!
I will wait until I've quilted it before I wash it, and keep my fingers firmly crossed until then!

I don't prewash either. I did a black and white and gray Kona solid quilt and used several color catchers when I washed it. Didn't notice any running of the black.

I made my daughter the bom from the quilt show last year but did't prewash. I tested the red in hot water and it turned the water pink. I took it to the laundmat (i have a small frontloader) and put it in the oversized frontloader using warm water setting. I used 3 color catchers. No bleeding. Yea.

Use color catchers when the quilt is finished. You should be OK.

Retayne is only used when prewashing fabric as it will set the dye. You can use Synthrapol to help suspend any loose dye particles when washing the finished quilt for the first time or use lots of color catchers. I have also used original Dawn dishwashing soap with good results when prewashing wasnt an option.

I am really sad about your unfortunate and preventable misfortune. Wash the quilt with Retaine following the instructions.

It is a good thing that there are solutions for all the people who don't wash fabric before using it in their quilts.:D
peace

Color catchers work for me. Sometimes I pre-wash, other times not so usually there is a mixture of washed fabric in a quilt. I've never had things bleed into other fabric with color catchers.

Synthrapol. NOT Retayne.

I don't pre-wash fabric's. I always check to make sure the bolt board says pre-shrunk before purchasing any fabric.I figure if it's pre-shrunk it has also done any bleeding it's going to do. I wash every thing in cold water. About the only colors that worry me are those in the red family so I wash the finished quilt with an old white towel. So far the towel is still bright white. The only time I use dark solid colors in a quilt is if it is specifically requested.

Use color catchers, 2 or 3 the first time.

I also don't prewash my fabrics but I'll throw in a couple of color catchers on the 1st wash to a finished quilt. I'd rather it bleed on me than after its been given out as a gift then the receiver goes to wash it and it bleeds on them. One quilt bleed on me and I didn't catch it before I threw it into the dryer. Thought for sure it was ruined but someone here told me to go ahead and wash it again with another color catcher and it should come out. It did and I am so grateful for the person that told me to wash it again. Thank you whomever that was.

I have used solid black fabrics in a number of my quilts and have found them not to bleed as I would think they would. I have found Kona solids to bleed more than Moda solids so I tend to stick with Moda's fabrics.

I often do not prewash my fabrics just because I am too anxious to get started! Color catchers work well.