I made a flag quilt about 5 years ago using pre-cut pieces from a kit. I was okay with the way it came out considering it was only going to be on my porch. I took it down the other day to wash it and all the red bled throughout all the white/beige of the lighter stripe. when I saw all the red, I did not dry it in the dryer because I really didn't want to set in the red dye. Any thoughts on how to get the white/beige stripes to lose the pink hue they now have? I thought I might rewash it using several color catchers and see how that worked. another thought was to use a solution of bleach/water and a small toothbrush and go over just the beige stripes - even if they come out white, that would be a vast improvement. I've posted a before picture and an after. I don't know if the pink color on the beiges show up too well but it is really prominent when I look at it. I appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thanks!!

If the color on my screen is more or less true, the white/beige/cream does not look very pink to me at all.

I think I'm noticing more the apparent loss of color in some of the reds and the blue.

I would avoid using bleach (Clorox, Hilex, any of those) like the plague.

Maybe just wash it again with color catchers.

those bleach pens i hear work well. I would wash in retayn or synthope and a bunch of color catchers afterward. but I am probably wrong on the re washing.

It does looked washed of color. but then it does not "new"
its still wonderful. :thumbup:

I'm not saying this to make you feel better, but I honestly like the washed one better. It looks antique. It's not streaky, right? Just red tinted? I say fly it with pride!

Thanks so much. I, too prefer the vintage look of it - but there are streaks of dark pink running through the lighter stripe - it just didn't show in the picture. I do have some retayne and also color catchers. I may just try to rewash it and live with the results.

if you put some synthropol in the water and re-wash the fugitive dyes should come out-
it is a detergent that keeps fugitive dyes from getting on other fabrics in the wash water---color catchers may catch any more bleeding- but i don't think they will help remove what is already there- for that you need the synthropol.
good luck---
and hopefully lesson learned-
ALWAYS PREWASH OR AT LEAST COLOR TEST ALL REDS!!! THE ALWAYS BLEED

Thanks so much. I, too prefer the vintage look of it - but there are streaks of dark pink running through the lighter stripe - it just didn't show in the picture. I do have some retayne and also color catchers. I may just try to rewash it and live with the results.

RETAYNE WILL SET THE DYE! IT KEEPS IT FROM RUNNING- DOES NOT FIX WHAT ALREADY HAS RUN- AND IF YOU USE IT NOW- IT WILL SET YOUR PINK--THE PINK SHOULD BE REMOVED BEFORE USING RETAYNE

I'd try a color catcher. Have heard some folks say that it removed the "pink" that had faded on white fabric.

Oh I am so sorry this happened to you. If you use bleach you must use something to stop the action. One example is the chemical you put in fish tanks. Otherwise the bleach keeps deteriorating your fabric.

I made this quilt when I was young and foolish!! It was the first time I bought a kit!! Lesson learned!

I agree with the ALWAYS prewash or color test -

but not ALL reds ALWAYS bleed. Just enough of them do bleed or have excess dye in them (or of of any color - other than whites or light pastels) so one can't make any assumptions that the fabric will NOT spill color.

I agree! I think it looks very natural.

You really don't want to use bleach of any kind on that, trust me. It's so hard to get out, just think how hard it is to get off your hands and it's twice as hard to get out of fabric. The bleach will interact with the sun and kick the crap out of your fabric. I don't know about any of the other chemicals that were mentioned but the only think I would think to do is keep washing it until all the dye is gone and then rinse it twice.

Retayne & synthope will set the dye. Wash with the colour catchers first. They will absorb the loose dye. After you get the pink out, then wash with retayne or synthope.

Try soaking in some oxy...

I had the same problem with a quilt just recently done. When I washed my white became pink. 1/2 cup of bleach in the washer let aggitate for a minute, added quilt and pinks all gone, and the red and blue stayed sharp! I tried so many other products, the color catchers didnt work, synthropol didnt work, so what the heck I thought, whats the worse thing that could happen. Turned out great!
Wishing now I hadnt spent the money on all the other expensive products that didnt come through.

I like the vintage look, too.
Good luck with your washings!
Let us know the outcome!

This just happened to me this week. I got a Red white and blue quilt from a guild member for the quilts of valor. I had to wash it before I sent it to it's final destination. The colors faded all over the white. Ugh! should have used a color catcher. I went to the store and bought some and rewashed it with 3 color catchers in it and then even rewashed it a 3rd time with 3 more. It came out pretty good, but not as perfect and crisp white as in the beginning. I will be sure to tell my guild members to prewash their fabrics from now on.

It is still BEAUTIFUL :)

It's a pretty flag, you did an awesome job on that.

Hi - This is such a beautiful quilt - this might help - go to Rit Dye section of grocery store - there is a product that takes out colors that bled - it did work on my DH's white shirts that I washed in laundry mat years ago that someone had come in and dyed something red - he just didn't go for wearing pink dress shirts wo work at the bank!! I have had success with it since too - Call the 800 number on the package and see if they can help -have Cell phone handy at grocery store to call while there - sorry I cannot remember the name of the rit product. Good luck

Hi - This is such a beautiful quilt - this might help - go to Rit Dye section of grocery store - there is a product that takes out colors that bled - it did work on my DH's white shirts that I washed in laundry mat years ago that someone had come in and dyed something red - he just didn't go for wearing pink dress shirts wo work at the bank!! I have had success with it since too - Call the 800 number on the package and see if they can help -have Cell phone handy at grocery store to call while there - sorry I cannot remember the name of the rit product. Good luck

just say if asked..."It was meant to be like that", it is still very nice!

Try using a Tide pen on the areas where the red ran. You could also try spotting with biz.

I would figure when all is said and done, that it is still beautiful, hope you can fix it , if not put it out and fly it anyway, no one will get that close to see it, so from a distance it will look fine, put it in the sun and it will fade out anyway. Love it either way. DEB

I think the second one, the washed one looks better!!

Hi, it is really beautiful in both pictures! I personally like the second one better though I prefer a more primitive, antique look! I was wondering if you washed your fabric prior to quilting? I don't always do this and sometimes when I do, the reds will still run. You did a wonderful job! :) Happy Quilting!

Gerri

I'll take it, I think it is fantastic, and you can make another one for you.hehe I don't see any pink and I think it looks really good, not all stiff and new. I really do like it ALOT.

I love the washed version. If you really are set on trying to get the color corrected, I would use the color catchers and not use bleach. Bleach will weaken the fibers. I really, really love the washed version. This is the joy of quilting - you just don't know until it's washed what the finished quilt will really look like. Yolanda Wood River

I love the old look it has now. I agree with everyone else stay away from bleach. I think trying the color catchers would be the best thing and then enjoy the end result. I really love your flag.

Just makes it look "aged"!

Color catchers and vinegar would be my choice. Maybe not vinegar through the 1st rewash and color catchers will get a lot of the dye. I know cuz older DD washed a red blanket with a cream one and the red bled.

That's also what I would do. Good Luck! I had a flag wall hanging
that ran and I couldn't get the color out so I tea dyed it. Made it look really old.

I don't know whether this will work on already washed fabric but I sometimes use cold water in the washing machine and add some white vinegar to wash and set the colors.

Usally, my faded things will come out using a laundry pretreater. I don't dry the item, I spray and throiw it back in, I have waited till it was dry and then I washed it again, with the same results.

All flags fade with time, your Old Glory just aged a little sooner than others. Fly it proudly, it is the best flag I have seen in a long time!

A color catcher should do the trick, a friend had a Christmas table runner turn pink and the color catcher took it all out!

If you had the flag on your porch, the sun may have faded the fabric, not the washing of it. Try color catcher or other dye stabilizer, but I'd just press it and use it as is. Sorry for the discoloration, though.

There is a product made by Rit dye (I think it is called Red Out) that you can re-wash this in and it will take the pink out of the cream colored fabrics. It is usually in the laundry section or the Rit Dye section. :thumbup:

Another case for prewashing fabrics. I had a pretty red flowered print and prewashed it 4 times and still had dye running out of it. It was only a 1/3 yd, but I tossed that sucker. Next time I will try the color catchers. Your flag is pretty and the antique look is nice. Fly it with pride.