Wednesday 8 February 2012

red, red, red...........

Hi everyone...............sometimes i get emails from people asking for info............. I am always happy to help out if I can.............But sometimes I am unsure of the best answer....
I do have a little fear of red........also worrying sometimes about what Lyn has asked...................
I notice Susie has posted her Tis the Season on the SAL blog and is also worrying about the red............
here is part of Lyn's email - hope you can help.......

"I'm emailing as I seem to have difficulty with 'red' fabric running, I have the colour catchers and use vinegar and yet many still run and I buy from Spotlight and the good fabric stores still it runs and as I have a grandson and of course reds work well with boy quilts I was wondering if you have problems. Your Anni Downs had red so it triggered my question.
 
If you have a trick up your sleeve this frustrated quilter would love to know about it."


.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

17 comments:

seabreezequilts said...

Personally I haven't had any problems with red. I don't use homespun (plain fabrics) and only use quality quilters cotton. Early on when I was quilting I did have a problem with a red fabric but nothing in the last 10 years. If in doubt I wash a piece separately to see and then won't use it if is a problem, if I was really worried I would stitch it next to a white fabric and then wash it so you will know if it is going to bleed and wash it how you would wash the finished quilt so you know what conditions will make it run. I know in the old days Spotlight fabric was a cheaper alternative and sometimes not dyed with the same quality dyes etc but I don't know if that is true now. I also don't wash my fabrics so I am not going to know until the quilt is finished and washed.
The only bleed I have had recently is with thread and I got it all out by laying a colour catcher on top of the thread and leaving it damp for a couple of hours on a towel.... got it all out too.

Fiona said...

I have had problems with thread more than fabric but I am not very experienced... I will be interested to read what others say... but I always wash reds before using (even though I don't always) just in case... hot wash and vinegar in it..
HUgz

Kathy said...

I haven't had trouble with reds for a long while - but it is always in the back of my mind when using the! Will tuck away any tips I see here though - I'm sure it's only a matter of time :)

Kerry @ Cottage on the Hill said...

I haven't had any problems with red for a long time, I don't wash any fabrics before using them. When ever I was a quilt I always put white vinegar and a hand full of salt in the wash.

Leanne said...

I did not prewash any of the fabric in my red and white quilt and not a single fabric ran. I washed the quilt as soon as I finished it. I never prewash fabric.I would never buy fabric for a quilt from spotlight their fabrics do not have as many finishes.

Kaye R said...

We always used to recommend testing a small piece of red, navy blue and black fabrics by popping a strip in a glass of cold water, then warm ( if it is going to run, warm will do it) These colors seem for some reason to be either really bad or no probs at all. If they did run we suggested a cold hand wash with salt to set the color and rinse in fresh. I know a lot of people don' t like to pre wash, so by doing a small tester if all is ok we don't have to wash the piece we will be sewing with. The strip I test is usually the extra 10cm I buy to allow for straightening the edge.

Bev C said...

I do pre-wash fabric, the finish they put on clothes and fabrics are Chemicals, no good for you. I just give the material a quick rinse then hang outside. If it has run I re-wash until it has stopped loosing colour I do this by putting the material under the tap not in a bucket to soak. I have had more trouble with black than red. Most other fabrics besides the plainer colours don't seem to run these days.
The ladies who suggested salt and veinegar are on the right track. I have been reading a lot of cross stitch blogs and they have had trouble with red threads running and all sorts of products are on the market to remove the dye. Of course you shouldn't heat set anything if the colour has run.
Good luck with your "Red" suggestions.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

rachelmp said...

I do rub red fabric with a cloth and warm water to see if any colour will bleed. I then wash it a few times and line dry. It's always been okay after that and I have used red homespun from spotlight for shorts for my daughter.

Susan said...

Guess that is another reason I dont often use red!, But if I was worried I would just wash it until it stopped running. I also have trouble with some stranded threads running and have only just heard about these colour catchers. Ages ago I had a cross stitch that ran badly when I washed it (I had used Danish Flower Thread) and the shop people suggested I use hot water and Omo - it worked!
Good Luck to all you red lovers!

Shari said...

Most modern reds are no problem. If you have a red that won't respond to the suggested treatments - get rid of it and use something else. There is certainly enough to choose from.

Katie said...

Pre treat the fabric with Synthropol or Retayne.

Susie said...

hmmm - all great suggestions. Still too scared to wash it. I'm thinking considering its a wall quilt might just leave it.......?

SewSurprising said...

I always prewash my red fabric with a huge handful of salt. :)

Anonymous said...

Apologies for leaving Anonymous but I am new to blogging & not sure how it all works - I have been told to remove dye that has run to use natural yoghurt - we had a tutor show us a quilt that the colours had run badly and the yoghurt fixed the problem a few of our quilt group have tried it and it worked well - hope this helps

Dianne said...

How about trying the quick trick of using wet cotton buds and firmly rubbing them over the red fabric to check if there might be a problem. Often small traces of colour cause no bleeding in my experience and I do use the colour catchers too to be sure. I'll always wash a quilt before giving it away just in case.

Yvonne W said...

Pardon my ignorance, but what are colour catchers and where do you get it from?
I find these comments really helpful-- I have not used red much but will take note for the future.

Dianne said...

For Yvonne W... Colour catchers are sold at supermarkets in the laundry aisle. They come in a small packet/box only abour 1 cm thick and are clearly labeled. Inside you get several of these paper like sheets that you simply put in the wash and after the load is finished you will see they have absorbed lots of colour and hopefully your quilt or wash load is all OK. I sometimes put a couple in with a quilt I am a bit concerned about colour running. Hope this explains a bit more and helps you find them.