Question:
Just brought home 15 yards of maroon 100% cotton, and am washing it before starting on the project. WOW! The water in the machine is RED! Any tips on setting the color?
Should I soak in vinegar or salt water, then wash again?
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Melinda

Answer:
Melinda, I think I saw something about a new product for bleeding. I'm gonna look and see if I can find it---seems like it may have been something that HC Quilts posted on a board somewhere.
I'll be back later if I find it.
Joan

Answer:
Melinda, here is a thread I found on eBay's Vintage Textile board. Scroll down towards the bottom and you will see HC Quilts post about Synthropol. This is not the thread I was looking for but maybe it will be helpful. I'm still looking for the other one, also.
Dye setting
Joan

Answer:
Well, duh, I should have looked on the Hart Cottage site first. The washing info is very informative and I think just what you are looking for.
Hart Cottage Quilts (washing instructions)
Joan

Answer:
MelBay,
Dharma Trading has a lot of good info in their catalog (most of it is also online these days)
The real question is this...
Are you just seeing a bit of excess dye (common with dark colors and red) coming out in the first wash water OR was it not a correctly processed fiber reactive dye... Cotton that is correctly dyed (with Procion, etc) will not bleed. This is because the dye actually permanently bonds with the cotton during the dyeing process and won't wash out. Anything washing out now means something is wrong. The synthrapol scrubs out the excess. If anything will work, it would be that. IMO

goodworks1 at ebay
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Answer:
Can you return it?
I once returned 15 yards of cotton fabric that I had purchased for a quilt back. I had washed it 3 or 4 times trying to remove the 'chemical' odor from it and finally took it back to JoAnn Fabrics in defeat.
I don't remember if they gave me credit or a refund, but anyway they took it back without much fuss (with the receipt, of course)
Is the color still coming off?

goodworks1 at ebay
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Answer:
Whoo hoo!! Thanks guys - the synthrapol worked! Went to my local quilt store, they had one bottle left, and I tried it. It had been previously washed twice, and soaked in vinegar water, then rinsed in salt water.
I soaked a piece in hot water this afternoon, and the water isn't even pink after 4 hours.
Thanks again for the tips.
http://members.aol.com/melbayone/thread.gif
Melinda

Answer:
Way To Go! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
Good news...!
Glad to hear it was just excess dye.
Will you be sewing it next to anything white? If so, I think I'd make up one (or one unit or even just sew one of each together) and wash them together the way they'll be handled later...just to be sure. The pH of your water/detergent can make a difference.
Anyhow, glad to hear you found the Synthrapol so easily!

goodworks1 at ebay
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Answer:
Good idea Goodworks. Maybe you should change your name to Goodidea. http://community.here.com/infopop/em.../icon_wink.gif
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Melinda

Answer:
lol That's one thing I almost never run out of -- ideas, that is.
so goodideas is probably more accurate than goodWorks1. http://community.here.com/infopop/em.../icon_wink.gif
However, someone has beaten me to that name at eBay...
But it IS a good idea. Thanks Mel!

goodworks1 at ebay
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