Help?

Oh, it has happened to me!  And I need to remedy it.  And I do not know how.

I made a little baby quilt using Kona white and batik scraps.  I had always heard that one need not pre-wash batiks, that they were colorfast. 

I put my finished quiltlet in the washer and when it emerged, the dye from some of the blue, the purple, and the orange batiks and bled into the white.

I have heard people speak of something called a dye magnet.  Do you know anything about this?  Or is there something else I can do to get these colors out of the white?

Strange that this is the first time after all these years.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUGGESTED COLOR CATCHERS.  I SHALL GET SOME FORTHWITH!!!

Thank you.


Comments

Anonymous said…
The dye magnet I use is Shout Color Catcher. I've never used them to get color out that has already bled into another, but I've heard it gets at least some of it out. I use them with laundry when I have a 'color questionable' item and new fabric when I pre-wash it. You'll find dye magnets with laundry supplies in the grocery store. It's worth a try. Best of luck to you.
Anya said…
I've used the Color Catchers as well. I made a quilt for my son using black, white, and red fabrics (and a really, really red backing) and have washed it several times successfully. The white has stayed white. I'm not sure if the Color Catchers will take the dye off of the white once it's on there, but give it a try. Good luck!
Carrie said…
Oy vey! I use the Shout Color Catcher sheets too ~ also called dye magnets. And they have worked for removing color that bled in a previous wash... though it doesn't always work, and it doesn't always work 100%. But I'm with Synthia and Anya, I would definitely give it a try.

And just so you know, I buy boxes of Color Catchers in multiples and I use them every time I wash a quilt, even one that has been washed several times already. You'd be amazed at how much residual dye is still in the fabric after multiple washings. While the sheets don't fade the fabric, they just remove the excess dye from the wash water.

And believe it or not, they also make a difference when you use them with "regular wash". My whites are whiter... then again, I did just change the light bulb in the laundry room. :)

Good luck!
Nancy - as long as you have not dried the quilt, Color Catchers should work. Put detergent in with the quilt and throw in at least 2, maybe even 3, Color Catchers. Worked like a charm for me.
A freind of mine didn't get running of dye until the third time she washed her batik quilt. There is no guarantee even with prewashing so Color Catchers are necessary with every wash.
howdidIgethere said…
I'm a fabric pre-washer -- always with a Shout Color Catcher and I use them for subsequent washes for new(ish) quilts, or even clothes (especially reds).

When daughters went away to college, they took CCs with them so they could mix brights with other colors in a single load of laundry. Presuming, that is, that they did laundry...