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1:24 pm
March 13, 2011
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I have a new quilt almost completed, I used washable marking pen for quilting lines so I need to wash the quilt to make that disappear. My problem is I want to be sure the colors don't run I have some deep purples and some bright pinks along with less intense colors. What do you do to keep your colors from running when you wash your quilts?
1:44 pm
February 10, 2009
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Didn't you prewash the fabric before you assembled it?
2:30 pm
December 28, 2008
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Washing carefully by hand using Orvus is the best way I know. But prewashing is VERY important.
Some marking pens do not actually require washing. Some disappear if spritzed with water.
2:37 pm
April 1, 2009
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Buckeye Girl is correct, it is recommended that all fabrics used in quilting be prewashed to prevent colors running during washing as well as guarding against shrinking in some of the quilting pieces, I think it would be a risk as best to wash it. There are some new sheet type of material that is added to the washer to help prevent color transfer in the wash, I have not used them, but there is still the shrinkage issue in some of the pieces. Maybe you could try washing some of the material scraps to see if they bleed or shrink.
3:25 pm
June 1, 2010
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I'm with JOJO, & Pete.
Draw on a scrap with the marking pen, see if it disappears with only a mild-to-heavy spritz (mine does)
Test wash scraps with Shout Color Catcher Dye-Trapping Cloths see if they work.
In olden days, we'd wash the unmade quiolt scraps in vinegar if we thought it would be needed. Other wise I'd just leave it…the markings are made to not be permanent so I'd just leave them.
I don't prewash…I mark my quilts dry clean only. (Although Woolite works just fine and I dry flat on grass.)
12:12 am
January 22, 2012
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I have not tried this on a quilt*** but.. having said that, I always have some of those color catcher sheets on hand that you can buy in the laundry section. I have had surprisingly good results with them on regular laundry. IE, clothing with multiple colored fabrics, "pink underwear syndrome" etc.. If you do this I would drop several in there I mean thats a lot of time and effort so I'd think a whole box wouldn't be a wasted investment..lol. But, I do agree with the pre wash thing, I am no quilter but, I also live my life in hindsight..lol so I have had my share of, "guess I shouldda" experiments.. I hope it turns out nice! Post a pic or a link! Would love to see!
11:03 pm
February 8, 2009
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and can't you use salt and vinegar in the water to set the colors? I bet there's info on the web for that but I remember it being the things to use.
Dede
10:18 am
May 5, 2010
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I have always prewashed all fabrics as well as embroidery thread … particularly the dark intense colors such as blacks, deep blues, greens, browns and, oh yeah, the infamous red, the bear of all bleeding dyestuffs. The trick with dealing with something that has mixed colors with, oh boy, whites or creams, is that you must rinse, rinse, rinse the piece until the color no longer is showing "bleed" from excess dye and THEN throw a dose of vinegar into the final rinse to set the remaining color. If there is still dye swishing in the water when the setting agent is added, those whites and creams will have a permanent tint as well. Last caveat: don't let the piece DRY between repeated rinses … keeping it wet considerably reduces the chance of haloed color wicking out from around problem colors. HTH!
1:19 pm
March 13, 2011
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Thank you to everyone who has given your input into my question. I have use that along with searching the internet for info. First off I don't like to wash my fabric before making a quilt because I like the shrinking to take place after quilting, it seems to give the quilt more of and old quilt look. So, this is how I washed it and it turned out great – no misplaced color at all! I used cold water in the washing machine along with 1/2 c vinegar and 1/3 cup salt along with 3 of the "shout" color catcher sheets and no detergent. My granddaughter is so in love with her new quilt. Thanks for all the help everyone.
8:56 pm
January 26, 2012
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I have been a quilter for over 15 years and I personally do not pre wash my fabric before starting on a quilt. I prefer the puckery look you get when you use a 80% cotton batt and the fabric as it shrinks a minute amount. If you are worried about colors running use Retayne in your wash. It keeps the dye from settling onto your quilt. I have never had an issue. The only exceptions are when I've made quilts for one picky daughter-in-law who wants the quilts to lay absolutely flat without any puckering whatsoever.
8:53 am
December 28, 2008
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Whether to prewash or not is one of those issues that quilters will NEVER settle. There is no correct answer that fits everyone. Just too many variables.
I do because I am more concerned with color and design than brand or quality of the fabric so I have and use everything from the cheapest to the most expensive fabrics all in the same quilt. Prewashing equalizes them to a great degree. And takes most of the bleeding problem away before a quilt is constructed.
Good friends who tend toward using collections of fabrics from good manufacturers don't have the need to prewash. They know that those fabrics will not bleed and will all shrink at exactly the same rate.
So, it just depends upon what you are using, how you want to use it and all sorts of other factors. Today's fabrics are more stable and consistent than what we had 20 and 30 years ago. Most of the time. Depending.
9:33 am
February 10, 2009
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I found it all VERY interesting. I'd never questioned the whole pre-wash thing… now I'm thinking about how to give this at least a good try!
9:33 am
June 26, 2011
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As always, many opinions. All of them are good.
I prefer not the pre-wash, but when using a deep rich color and white for contrast, things are pre soaked. In hot water. I rinse and rinse and rinse. In the last rinse I put a pc of the white, to see if it catches any tint.
If an older design quilt, I like the pucker of shrunken fabric. If an art quilt, I do not want any puckering. I want flat, flat, flat. Those are definitely soaked in the hot, and pressed dry so all shrinkage is taken care of.
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