Monday, September 15, 2008

Pre-washing vs not

This isn't a survey but I would like to know if and why you all pre-wash your fabrics or not. I usually prewash everything before it even makes it into my sewing room except kits or BOMs with small pieces. I do it because I don't want the fabrics to shrink at a different rate. Now here is another reason.
This is in the Star Struck soldier quilt that I just finished. It must have been one of the reds that I swapped. I usually wash the quilt before I give it away.

So here's the question. Should I wash it again? Will that make it better or worse?
I don't usually have this problem.

Until next time...
Susie

11 comments:

Margeeth said...

Oh no, this is terrible. Of course it is a red that does this. Reds are the worst. This certainly was a learning moment to wash all your swapped fabrics too, but that does not help you right now, does it.

I guess you could try washing it again together with a couple of those colour catcher thingys. It might or might not remove the color on the light patches but it would not make it worse.

The Calico Cat said...

I would wash it agin with a color catcher...

I am not a pre-washer... (I have not had a problem - yet.) I like the crinkly look that you get when you wash after it is quilted...

~Kristie said...

I agree - either a color catcher or Synthrapol, which is usually available in quilt shops. Hope it comes out!

Unknown said...

I'm a pre-washer, through and through, for the very reason you've just shown. I use Synthrapol and have just recently started using Retayne as well. I'd wash it again using one of these products.

Vicki W said...

If you wash it again (and I would), use Synthrapol and not Retayne. Retayne makes the fabrics hold color. User retayne on newly purchased fabric to get the color to stopp running but not on a load of mixed colors - I know this from personal experience! Personally, i would use Synthrapol and color catchers.

Ginger Patches said...

I'm with Vickie synthrapol and a color catcher. I never pre-wash and I've never had a problem. If there is red in a quilt I usually put a color catcher in with it. I only use quilt store fabrics though, when I used to get my fabric from Joannes and places like that I always pre-washed. I like my fabric to shrink a little after I quilt it to hide all my quilting goofs :)

*karendianne. said...

Gosh, what a bummer. Your comments were interesting though. This is the first I've heard of a color catcher. ;) Do let us know what happens.

I don't prewash and I use Retayne. Someday I fear I'll run into a problem although I do hope Retayne and my washing method never let me down.

Risky Quilter Love, *karendianne./ Living Life at LeeHaven

Teresa said...

I always wash mine too - I just like the smell and feel of washed fabrics better than the way they come out of the factories. Plus there is the bleeding factor. This has only happened to me once, and it was Thimbleberries red material that was in a kit I purchased, and was a small piece so I did not wash it - and when ironing, it bled right on to other fabrics. First and last time I every purchased a kit. Wish I had an answer for you - maybe the comments you get will help me figure out how to get the bleeding mess out of a quilt I put a lot of time into.

Mary Johnson said...

I don't prewash fabrics but always wash quilts before giving them away. I always use color catchers in the wash.

If you've already dried this, it may not come out. I had a donated top for HeartStrings that I had a real problem with - in the end, I appliqued over the problem areas - it worked out great.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mmcjohnson/QuiltedForOthers20072008#5163726290493554562

MJinMichigan said...

A member of my quilt guild had the same thing happen with a red and white quilt.  She washed the quilt with an entire box of dye magnets (I think it was about 20 or more) and the quilt looked great.  The only way to tell that there had been red stains in the white was to put a piece of new white fabric next to the white pieces in the quilt.  Then you could see a very slight pink tinge to it.

Elaine Adair said...

I am selective with my pre-washing. Dark reds, maroons (like yours)or rich color-saturated colors are pre-washing gently.

I use various methods, Synthropol, Dye Magnets. AFTER the fact, I once used Shout and it worked just fine.