Using fabric that bled
 

I recently purchased a 1990’s vintage piece of red fabric. When I pre-washed it, it turned the color catchers a lovely shade of pink, and several of the other fabrics I pre-washed with it also came out pink. I was able to remove the pink from the other fabrics using Dawn. Using Dawn, I also was able to remove the excess dye from the red fabric and a subsequent washing of my red fabric culprit had the color catcher come up white.

Should I use the red fabric now or further treat it (and, if so, with what)?

I'll be watching this thread. I had a piece of red fabric that I couldn't stop the bleeding. It was pink when I put it away.

Once it comes clean, it is good to go without further treatment.

I love basic Dawn detergent. Along with WD40 and duct tape, I think you can survive just about anything. I'm also a fan of heat treating running dyes -- thoroughly wet and soak, put in a safe for microwave pyrex type bowl, cover with plastic wrap and nuke it. Or you can boil on top of the stove.

I had one really bad experience with a Maroon fabric that completely ruined a quilt. I had prewashed it without a color catcher and thought I was good to go. That piece never stopped bleeding.

The darker fabric is a remnant of what ruined the quilt and has been washed at least twice. The other is from the same line/it started the same color -- I used the blue in the quilt with no problems and has been treated and washed at least 7 times and still runs like a thief in the night...

Tartan - good idea.

Suz- if you really want to use it I would do a wash one more time. If it doesn't bleed I'd go ahead and use it.

There is a difference between excess dye in a piece - once that has been removed, the piece is "safe" to use.

My criteria for that is: after soaking it in hot water with a bit if Dawn detergent for at least two hours, will it " rinse clear" -

If a fabric is a bleeder, I will attempt to return it if it is recent purchase. Otherwise it goes in the wastebasket. I wi not use or donate a known bleeder. A bleeder never rinses clear.

Vicki Welsh has an excellent article/blog about bleeding fabric . Unfortunately, I do not know how post a link from my phone. Maybe someone else will post a link?

I would suggest you wash it with a piece of white fabric. Sometimes
there's just a hint of dye that is not noticeable to the eye but it will
catch in white fabric.

Test it. Get a white cotton kitchen towel damp, rub it on the red fabric for a good half-minute or minute. Get the red fabric nice and damp, give it every opportunity to bleed. If your white cotton kitchen towel stays white, you're good.