AndysC

I have never prewashed before, but I am doing a swap where it is required. Plus, the colors are red and white. How do you prewash? In the washer or by hand? And with red, how will I know when it is washed enough that it will stop bleeding?

Also, starching - I have never starched anything, but it will be necessary after prewashing, huh?

Sorry, I know that this is like beating a dead horse. I have been reading post after post after post, but I still have these questions.

Thanks to anyone who responds.

hopetoquilt

I would machine wash. You can serge the ends or use pinking shears to reduce the amount of tangled threads. Use shout color catchers. You may need to wash a few times. When the color catchers come out white, the fabric has stopped bleeding.

ckcowl

wash the fabrics separately---in the washer- with detergent- toss in a couple (color-catchers) they are in the laundry section of the store- in a box like bounce sheets) when there is no color on the color catchers there is no (bleeding) going on
tumble dry in the dryer- if you take the fabric out of the dryer when it is still (barely damp) you can iron it without starch- you can use starch if you want but generally a good spritz of water with a spray bottle, or a blast of steam is all you need to remove wrinkles- if the fabric is (flimsy/thin/slippery) starch will make it crisp- easier to cut - some people use starch all the time- others very seldom.

QuiltE

ditto ... for all pre-washing I "abuse" it ... hot water, hot dryer.
Toss in your colour catcher as your insurance to "know" IF there's any bleeding.

I did some R+Ws this week ... some were a high quality, though the cheaper ones, I expected to bleed.
None bled!

Sometimes we get surprises .... and they don't.
And sometimes the surprise goes the other way, and fabrics I never expect would bleed, do.

Those colour catchers (or Dr. Bechmann's for those here in Canada) are worth every penny ... for insurance!

huntannette

Dr. Bechmann`s? I`ve never heard of those....where do you get them????

Tartan

For me it would depend on how much fabric I was washing. If it is a fat quarter, I would do it by hand in the sink. I would put my red FQ in the sink with very hot water and a bit of Retayne to set the colour. Swish it around with a wooden spoon for a while and then check the water and rinse. I would repeat washing until the water was clear. The white I would simply hand wash in the sink.
If it was yardage, I would do it in the washing machine with Retayne and colour catchers for the red.

PaperPrincess

I recently (well, sort of recently) got a front loader washer. Boy what a difference. I really think that to get rid of the excess dies, you need a lot of water, more than my front loaded supplies. I've been washing the fabric in the washer and hanging around to look at the the rinse water as it exits the machine. If there's color in the water, I re-wash in the laundry tub which I totally fill with water.

QuiltE

For sure in Metro ... and if you don't see it, ask, as they can definitely get it.
Likewise at the other stores.
The distributor is in Mississauga and their market is expanding.
They will sell to LQS' too.

Here's a link to an earlier thread ...
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t185615.html
You can see what the box looks like, and know what you're looking for.

I've been using them faithfully for almost a year now ... and wouldn't wash new fabric without.

As mentioned above, I've had huge surprises all along the way.
Just recently did some red batik.
... and we think batik + red is a recipe for instant disaster!
Nope! It stayed as white as could be!
Then there's been other pale fabrics that you think, no problem.
........ Dr. Beckmann grabs all sorts of dye!

As a safety precaution ... I attach the colour collector to an old wash cloth with safety pins.
Some have reported their washing down the drain, and then an expensive service call later.
Now, I keep a stack already pinned and ready to drop in the machine.

QuiltE

That's the advantage of the Shout or Dr. Beckmann's products ... you don't have to hang around and try to figure it out. It grabs up the dye!




For all ... please keep in mind that the Colour Catchers/Collectors do not stop colour bleeding for future washes. It is not a treatment. It may take several washes before bleeding stops ... or a Retayne treatment to do the job.

Judi in Ohio

Why would you participate in a swap with washed fabrics when you don't wash your fabric? I am a strict non washer and I wouldn't touch washed fabrics. Just because of the shrinking differences could be a problem. I made a red/wh log cabin for my daughter, unwashed and washed with color catchers after and it was fine. I just would be afraid that my quilt would look different in some spots and that would drive me nuts. I am the unwashed hostess on another swap site, we have a washed hostess also. I think it is best to decide what you want to do and stick with it. Has anyone else combined both and been happy?