Washing Fabric

[Joannequilts]

Hi cindyg!
How much vinegar do you use in a vinegar bath?? Warm or cold water?

I don't usually wash my fabrics but right now I'm starting on a Nautical baby quilt for a ex-co workers grandbaby and it's primary colors, red, white and blues. The red fabric (3 yards of it!) I have is a pure, bright red and the more I looked at it, the more I thought I'd just better wash it. Boy, was I ever right! I use the Shout Color Catcher sheets ( they are great!) and I've washed the fabric about three times now and the sheets are still full of a bright pink color. HELP!!!

Joanne

[Joannequilts]

Opps! I forgot to say that I'm new to this forum! Hi everyone!

Joanne

[cindyg]

Joannequilts - I would do the red fabric in the kitchen sink using about 1/2 sink of tepid water with 3 or 4 cups of vinegar. I'd let it soak for 15 - 20 minutes. Wring it out and put it in the washer with just a little bit of detergent, no fabric softeners, and run it thru the gentle cycle, then dry in the dryer. Let me know how it does. I did this with the red fabric I used in my DH's flag quilt and I had no bleeding problem at all.

[Joannequilts]

Cindyg- I tried the vinegar bath, but no luck! I'm not giving up, the fabric is such a nice color and weight (unlike alot of solid fabric). I've washed it twice since the vinegar and it was better after the second wash. Maybe I should get some Retayne???
Oh, I did use the vinegar on another red and white stripe fabric with the same problem and it worked!
Any other advice??
Thanks so much!
Joanne

[cindyg]

Joannequilts - It wouldn't hurt to try Retayne. I've never used it before because the vinegar had always done the trick for me. I'd try everything if I had a fabric I really wanted to use. I'm sorry the vinegar didn't work. I wonder if you soaked it in pure vinegar (no water) if that would set the color. Well, let me know what you come up with.

[Joannequilts]

Cindyg - I think I'll go buy some more vinegar and try your suggestion about using it straight. I hate to give up on a "natural" solution! Thanks so much for your help! I do love this fabric, the color is so clear and RED! and a nice weight, too - not flimsy. I'll say one thing, it's been washed to death and is still nice! LOL

Joanne

[institcheswithrosie]

Joanne,

Hello to Clermont County!! I dis a quilt show at your library last year. Lot's of fun. I'm in Cinci. Anyway, I don't prewash, but am a firm believer in Shout color catchers. If I really thing there is a chance of fading, I'll use 2.

[cindyg]

Joannequilts - did you try the pure vinegar?

[Joannequilts]

cindyg - I did soak in straight vinegar for at least an hour, then washed in cold water with a little detergent. It still bled... Washed again. Same thing! I think I will go ahead and use it though. I always use the color catchers when I wash my quilts after I make them. The quilt I'm making is Nautical, with small pieces of the red for the lighthouse and a few pieces in other blocks. I will include a box of color catchers when I give the quilt with instructions to wash in cold water, too. I think it will be ok.
It's really funny...I've hardly ever prewashed my fabric! BUT, I always use color catchers.

Thanks for all your help!
Joanne

[Joannequilts]

institcheswithrosie - Hi! Which library??? I live two doors down from the Williamsburg Library, but there are several libraries in Clermont County...
Joanne