LavenderBlue

Are all of these products totally interchangeable? Or do they do different jobs?
Is it best to use them at different stages of quilt making?
Please explain as I have not used any of them.

THX

PaperPrincess

Here's my take
Retayne sets the colors. You would use this to set the die in your fabric, before you cut the fabric. This should stop further bleeding and keep the strong fabric color.
Synthrapol keeps excess die shed in the water, in the water, not deposited back on the fabric. This again stops further bleeding, but in a different way. The fabric color may be slightly lighter when you're done because you are basically washing out excess die. Usually before you cut the fabric, but you can use it on completed tops too.
Color Catchers are similar to Synthrapol, draws die bled in the water into the color catcher so it won't get deposited on another part of the quilt. Usually used with completed tops.

ghostrider

Retayne is used to prewash fabric before using it in anything. It sets loose dyes. Do not, repeat not, use it for washing fabrics that have been made into something or you risk setting loose dyes onto other fabrics.

Synthrapol keeps loose dyes suspended in the wash water so they do not settle on your quilt. It's pretty much the same as Color Catchers.

As for white vinegar, it does not work for setting dyes these days. It used to, but the dyes have all changed and all vinegar does now is get grunge out of dirty laundry. It no longer works on setting dyes and hasn't for quite some time now.

This thread has some great information on this topic.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...l-t127678.html

pinkcastle

I agree with PaperPrincess. This is my understanding as well. I have only used Color Catchers when I prewash my fabric. I am think about overdyeing some fabric that I have, so I have been reading up on Retayne and Synthrapol.

QuiltE

Ghostie ... everything you have said, makes sense from what I have come to understand from previous threads. Including many of your posts on those threads! Thanks for re-stating all!

A question ... do you think there is more reason to use Synthrapol ? colour catches? or no real difference and just a personal preference?

THANK YOU!!!

ghostrider

Personally, I think it makes far, far more sense to treat the cause instead of continually treating the symptoms. Retayne does that, the others don't. I test for running and treat with Retayne when necessary. End of problem.

When dealing with non-prewashed blocks from other quilters, I use Color Catchers until the colors stop running because they're easier to use in a hand wash, don't require such high water temps, and are readily available. One box lasts me a very long time.

QuiltE

Oh, yes, I forgot to say ... I am of the pre-wash abuse mindset!

I see synthrapol and colour catchers as a quality control ... or safety check when uncertain! So, thus why I wondered what you thought of the two in comparison.

What I like about colour catchers is, that I have "evidence" ... it's either white or not. I haven't used synthrapol, but I bet I'd always be "wondering" if there was any colour running around in the washer!

bearisgray

Anyone know what happens if one takes a 'bleeder' and treats it with Retayne and Synthropol at the same time?

ghostrider

What would be the goal, bear?

QuiltE

I'm kind of like Ghostie here .... huh?

Wouldn't they start fighting (kidding!!).
Maybe not kidding .. maybe there'd be a chemical reaction in your washer?

A thought here ... is it not correct that you first need to wash the fabric, to get the excess dye out (particularly batiks) before setting with retayne. What I'm suggesting here, that there's a certain amount of excess dye that you'll never set and needs to be washed out.