fabric bleeding?
 

Hi all! I am new to quilting and I had a question for you guru's!
I am about to start a quilt that will be a modern-ish offset lonestar. The star itself will be primarily colors of various shades of pink and orange. The background will be white. The binding will be pink.

I just received my fabrics in the mail (yipee!) and now I am wondering do I need to worry about the pinks fading onto the white background when the quilt is finished and washed?? Is there anyway I can prep the fabrics before construction to minimize this? Should I find a new background color?

Thanks!

I would do a color test on a scrap of fabric if I were really worried. However, I never worry about it. They do make those color catcher thingeys that you throw in the wash with your fabrics and it catches any dyes that might escape.

If it would ease your mind, you could prewash.

I am prewashing...a few times. Hopefully all of my fabric wont unravel!

I wash and dry all my fabric before using, then iron with magic sizing. If you have good quality fabric and clip a quarter inch diagonally across all four corners of your fabric you will have only a very minimal amount of fraying. I was in the machine with warm water on gentle then take out of the dryer when it is still the tiniest bit damp. Deep pinks and red are likely to run a little. This is what my quilting class teacher taught me.

I also tear the selvages off before I iron them.

I am in the process of doing a quilt in reds and white (with small red print). Reds (possibly oranges or any other color) will bleed. I use a dye setting product so I never have to be concerned whether I have color catchers on hand! I'd much rather go to the time and expense to set the dye than risk ruining the quilt -- that's too much work to waste!

JMHO

Jeanette Frantz

First, I'd do a test as mentioned - a damp flour sack towel rubbed on the fabric. If the towel shows any color at all, then you know you have a bleeder. Fill a bucket or tub (depending on how much fabric you have) with hot water, add a drop of Dawn or other detergent, and soak the fabric for 12 hours. Drain, spin excess water out, dry, and you'll be good to go. You won't need color catchers.

I always staystitch if I'm prewashing. I know some who use a serger on the edges.

My auto correct tried to write "I always statistics if I'm preaching"--:sigh: technology can be so clueless! :)

I always prewash fabric and if I'm still in doubt, I'll wash again and throw a white washcloth in with the fabric. If it comes out white, I know the bleeding has stopped.

Wow! Thanks for all of the ideas!! :)