pre wash oops
05-26-2015, 08:06 AM
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,476
I started out - years ago - just washing my fabrics in warm water
Then i had a bleed with a solid maroon when I washed that quilt.
NOW -
If the piece is big enough to warrant it, I overcast the raw edges before it hits water
Soak it (like colors) in hot water - a bucket, sink, kettle, bowl - whatever will hold it but not use a zillion gallons of water
Let it set until the water cools down - or i get back to it -
Wash - gently - in cold to warm water -
Dry - if at home, in the dryer - when away - on a line - When line drying, I fold the "good" side in and line up the selvages so that it will dry "straight"
I feel that agitation is what makes new fabric look worn/used -so I try to keep that to a minimum.
As I've said before - something I've made will probably come through most washings not too much worse for wear - UNLESS the washer is compulsive about bleach (NO NO NO NO NO) or setting it on a LOOOOONNNNGGG cycle, or washing it three times a week. (Super frequent washings only make sense to me if something liquid has come in contact with it.)
Then i had a bleed with a solid maroon when I washed that quilt.
NOW -
If the piece is big enough to warrant it, I overcast the raw edges before it hits water
Soak it (like colors) in hot water - a bucket, sink, kettle, bowl - whatever will hold it but not use a zillion gallons of water
Let it set until the water cools down - or i get back to it -
Wash - gently - in cold to warm water -
Dry - if at home, in the dryer - when away - on a line - When line drying, I fold the "good" side in and line up the selvages so that it will dry "straight"
I feel that agitation is what makes new fabric look worn/used -so I try to keep that to a minimum.
As I've said before - something I've made will probably come through most washings not too much worse for wear - UNLESS the washer is compulsive about bleach (NO NO NO NO NO) or setting it on a LOOOOONNNNGGG cycle, or washing it three times a week. (Super frequent washings only make sense to me if something liquid has come in contact with it.)
05-26-2015, 08:09 AM
#23
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,476
I only pre-wash if I find ANY color rubbing off when rubbed with white paper--what I was told to do by a LQS owner. So far it has worked fine. And since I test all fabric, I'm always amazed what fabric bleeds and which don't! Think we all expect the dark reds/purples/etc to bleed, but always blown away when a neutral with just a little red or blue bleeds!
06-02-2015, 12:47 PM
#25
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Horicon WI
Posts: 72
I had never pre washed my fabrics. Saying that I just did a lap quilt as a gift and wahed it and laid it to dry and the maroon batik started bleeding. Had to wah it twice before it stopped bleeding. Lesson learned
06-02-2015, 02:17 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Nevada
Posts: 6,958
Just adding a note: I meant "recipe to keep colors from running" is a thread here on the board.
06-03-2015, 01:51 PM
#27
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 246
I wash fabric that I suspect may bleed--black, red, maroon, dark blue, etc.--with a little bit of vinegar in the water. I should say I soak the fabric, I don't agitate, then move the machine dial to spin then rinse without agitation and hang to dry. I have made the mistake of cutting the pieces for a pattern before I washed dark colors and had a real mess, especially with charm sizes!
06-09-2015, 02:11 PM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7,741
Raising my hand... I prewash in hot water with a warm rinse and then dry on high heat because I want maximum shrinking before I start to cut out a quilt. Besides, there's no guarantee at all that the finished quilt will be washed in cold water by a new owner even if you (strongly) suggest that's how they should care for it.
If my batiks are still losing dye after two (gentle) cycles, I add Retayne to set any remaining loose dyes. It's never failed me. There's no way I would ever stop using batiks.
If my batiks are still losing dye after two (gentle) cycles, I add Retayne to set any remaining loose dyes. It's never failed me. There's no way I would ever stop using batiks.
06-09-2015, 02:30 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Kaua`i
Posts: 616
I always prewash in hot water. I've never had too many problems with batiks.
But as I've mentioned before, the WORST bleeder was a dark green check. It bled all over the other greens in the wash load: that's when I'd just read about Colour Catchers on this board. After a trip to WallyWorld and another couple of washes, the catchers saved the day.
And the "dark" green check turned out to be a light green check once the excess dye washed out. I keep it above the laundry table as a reminder.
But as I've mentioned before, the WORST bleeder was a dark green check. It bled all over the other greens in the wash load: that's when I'd just read about Colour Catchers on this board. After a trip to WallyWorld and another couple of washes, the catchers saved the day.
And the "dark" green check turned out to be a light green check once the excess dye washed out. I keep it above the laundry table as a reminder.
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