Prevent dye bleeding?

Question

I'm making a quilt and I have some colors that I think are going to bleed really bad. Bright red, bright blue, and solid white. I asked one of the women at the store I bought the fabric at how I could prevent the bleeding and she said to soak the fabric in vinegar and cold water (apparently this sets the dye). However, I have done this three times and tested the fabric with a white sock afterwards, and each time the sock comes out pink.
How can I keep these colors from bleeding into each other? I really need this blanket to be washable.

Answer 1

Use Retayne when you pre-wash the fabrics to help set the dyes. Do NOT use it on a completed quilt, as it will fix any dyes that have migrated to the other fabrics and you'll never get them out.

After you've completed the quilt, use another product called Synthrapol. This keeps any dye that gets into the water from settling on other fabrics.

While vinegar and salt were used in the past to set dyes, they really don't work (not permanently, at least) with today's dyes. If you were using a vegetable based dye it might be a different story, but I don't imagine you made the dye yourself out of red onions. They may also give the appearance of setting the dye, but really they just prevent it from migrating during this washing. The next time you wash, you'll have the same problem.

Bottom line - try the Retayne twice. If you're still getting noticeable color bleed, buy a different fabric. It just isn't worth the worry.

Answer 2

I use a product called Retayne (pronounced "retain") to wash fabrics prior to quilting. I don't work for the company, but the product is specifically created to set the dye in fabrics. Works great for keeping black jeans BLACK, too. The directions are on the bottle, but basically you pre-wash the fabric once with Retayne.

The amount of Retayne to use depends upon how much fabric you are treating. You should only need to use it once. However, since you seem especially concerned, I recommend rinsing the fabric in cold water after treating with Retayne. The water should be clear. If the water has any color. Then, either repeat the treatment until the rinse water is clear or, select a substitute fabric.

You can get Retayne at specialty quilt shops, or chain stores like Hancocks or JoAnns.

Answer 3

Sorry to say, but the chemicals used in the past for making fabric dyes "colorfast" are "environmentally unfriendly" so are not used any more.

I would try putting some alum maybe a quarter cup to a full washer of hot water and the same amount of salt . a quarter cup of alum (found in the spices shelf at grocery or from druggist at drugstore) would be the entire llittle bottle. One per color!!

Alum and salt are used by custom dyers at home as a mordant. Mordants are chemical compounds that set dyes. Some are acidic and some are alkaline. I am recommending the least environmentally unfriendly alkaline one.

Answer 4

I was alway told to soak the fabric in salt water. Or if in the machine put the fabric (seperate colours) then put one tablespoon of salt in drum and as high a wash as your fabric wash tag will allow.

Answer 5

I wonder if Bubble Jet would solve your problem? It is what you use to set fabric after it is printed out and sets the inks.

Answer 6

Thanks to our Chinese manufacturing.

Does anyone remember that we once had "colorfast" and
"pre-shrunk" fabrics?

Sorry, I can't answer your question.
Before colorfast, my mother used to wash the fabric until it stopped fading. (1930's)
This would have to be done before you sew into the quilt.