Question about red fabric
07-29-2022, 06:19 PM
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,406
If you are totally reluctant to wash the whole piece, cut off a small piece - only needs to be about 1 x 2 inches - put it in a clear glass of hot water with a drop of dawn dish detergent - and let it set overnight.
If your water is clear the next day - you are "probably" going to be okay to use it.
If the water has a pink tinge to it - I would soak the rest of it in hot water that has had some Dawn added to it for at least two hours - rinse - see if the water is clear - if still pink - repeat.
An article worth taking the time to read:
https://www.colorwaysbyvicki.com/sav...g-quilt.html#/
Personally, I soak and wash everything washable before cutting it. I have had enough bleeding fabrics - of all colors - to want to avoid surprises.
However - there are people who have said they have never ever had a problem.
If your water is clear the next day - you are "probably" going to be okay to use it.
If the water has a pink tinge to it - I would soak the rest of it in hot water that has had some Dawn added to it for at least two hours - rinse - see if the water is clear - if still pink - repeat.
An article worth taking the time to read:
https://www.colorwaysbyvicki.com/sav...g-quilt.html#/
Personally, I soak and wash everything washable before cutting it. I have had enough bleeding fabrics - of all colors - to want to avoid surprises.
However - there are people who have said they have never ever had a problem.
07-30-2022, 04:52 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,352
I would wash it with color catchers. I think it is about 50/50 as to it will bleed or not, more for some red fabrics. I had one red marbled type fabric which started out maroon, and after six washes was still bleeding and now a rosy, red color. I put it in a rummage sale and a great price of $4 and a note on it that said "this fabric is still bleeding". One of the many reasons why I stopped using 108 wide backing is that if I have to prewash it, it is too hard to press so now I just use regular width fabric. Those two seams to stitch them together is a lot easier for me than dealing with the giant hunk of 108 wide fabric.
