Fabrics that have excess dye in them
02-15-2011, 09:54 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southwest Kansas
Posts: 4,820
The real question isn't whether a fabric bleeds or not, it's whether other fabrics pick that excess dye up. Not all fabrics will pick that dye up and even most of the ones that do it won't be permanent because it's still not set.
02-15-2011, 11:21 AM
#12
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,511
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
The real question isn't whether a fabric bleeds or not, it's whether other fabrics pick that excess dye up. Not all fabrics will pick that dye up and even most of the ones that do it won't be permanent because it's still not set.
You make the situation sound a bit like a communicable disease - it's not the carrier that's the problem - it's who might be susceptible to the disease - not everyone gets sick that's exposed to the carrier.
To take this in a different direction -
Why/How do some people seem to stay well when just about everyone else around them seems to be getting sick?
02-15-2011, 11:28 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southwest Kansas
Posts: 4,820
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
The real question isn't whether a fabric bleeds or not, it's whether other fabrics pick that excess dye up. Not all fabrics will pick that dye up and even most of the ones that do it won't be permanent because it's still not set.
You make the situation sound a bit like a communicable disease - it's not the carrier that's the problem - it's who might be susceptible to the disease - not everyone gets sick that's exposed to the carrier.
To take this in a different direction -
Why/How do some people seem to stay well when just about everyone else around them seems to be getting sick?
You've never accidentally washed a pair of your hubby's white shorts with something red? After a few washes they're white again.
The only thing I've ever had pick up loose dye in the wash and stay that way permanently is some rayon embroidery on a pair of pillow cases. The pillow cases themselves didn't pick up the dye. I've been doing laundry for about 38 years now.
02-15-2011, 12:55 PM
#14
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,511
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
The real question isn't whether a fabric bleeds or not, it's whether other fabrics pick that excess dye up. Not all fabrics will pick that dye up and even most of the ones that do it won't be permanent because it's still not set.
You make the situation sound a bit like a communicable disease - it's not the carrier that's the problem - it's who might be susceptible to the disease - not everyone gets sick that's exposed to the carrier.
To take this in a different direction -
Why/How do some people seem to stay well when just about everyone else around them seems to be getting sick?
You've never accidentally washed a pair of your hubby's white shorts with something red? After a few washes they're white again.
The only thing I've ever had pick up loose dye in the wash and stay that way permanently is some rayon embroidery on a pair of pillow cases. The pillow cases themselves didn't pick up the dye. I've been doing laundry for about 38 years now.
The point of this posting was - just because a fabric is considered a "good" brand versus a "not-so-good" brand - is not a guarantee that the fabric is color-fast.
02-15-2011, 01:45 PM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southwest Kansas
Posts: 4,820
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
The real question isn't whether a fabric bleeds or not, it's whether other fabrics pick that excess dye up. Not all fabrics will pick that dye up and even most of the ones that do it won't be permanent because it's still not set.
You make the situation sound a bit like a communicable disease - it's not the carrier that's the problem - it's who might be susceptible to the disease - not everyone gets sick that's exposed to the carrier.
To take this in a different direction -
Why/How do some people seem to stay well when just about everyone else around them seems to be getting sick?
You've never accidentally washed a pair of your hubby's white shorts with something red? After a few washes they're white again.
The only thing I've ever had pick up loose dye in the wash and stay that way permanently is some rayon embroidery on a pair of pillow cases. The pillow cases themselves didn't pick up the dye. I've been doing laundry for about 38 years now.
The point of this posting was - just because a fabric is considered a "good" brand versus a "not-so-good" brand - is not a guarantee that the fabric is color-fast.
02-15-2011, 08:57 PM
#17
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Pre-testing is an alternative to pre-washing. Cut off a square inch of fabric, toss it into a clear glass of water, and wait to see if dye starts bleeding into the water. Afterwards, rub the wet fabric against a white fabric to see if any dye crocks (transfers). If a swatch passes both of these tests, it's safe to use.
I should add that pre-washing only gets rid of excess dye in a fabric. It will not permanently set dye that was not chemically set properly in the factory. Thus, you can pre-wash and still have a bleeding fabric on your hands. That's why it's a good idea to wash a bleeder fabric in Retayne before using it in a quilt (following up with a test swatch after the Retayne to make sure that it has stopped bleeding; some fabrics require two doses of Retayne).
I should add that pre-washing only gets rid of excess dye in a fabric. It will not permanently set dye that was not chemically set properly in the factory. Thus, you can pre-wash and still have a bleeding fabric on your hands. That's why it's a good idea to wash a bleeder fabric in Retayne before using it in a quilt (following up with a test swatch after the Retayne to make sure that it has stopped bleeding; some fabrics require two doses of Retayne).
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
