How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

[QuiltPAC]

I'm making the "Square in a Square" pattern using batiks and solid white fabrics. It will be used on a twin bed. The pattern calls for a charm pack, a jelly roll, and a honey bun. I'm going to substitute white yardage for the honey bun and plan to wash it before piecing it. I won't pre-wash the precuts. However, I'm concerned that the batiks will bleed onto the white yardage once it is washed. This is the first time I'm using batiks. I was thinking of using color catchers the first time I wash it, but have never used them before. How many should I use? Should color catchers be used with the first few washes? Has anyone used color catchers and still had bleeding? Any other suggestions?

[Jen7]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

I prewash all my yardage with color catchers and have had no problems, and always wash the completed item with them as well. I don't use alot of precuts, but haven't had any trouble when I have.

[SuzyQue]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

I never wash precut. I have had great success using color catchers in the wash after completing my projects. If the colors are red or extremely dark with whites, I use 2 color catchers. I gift another 1-2 color catchers with the gift with instructions for the next wash. I have never had any bad issues.

[LauraP]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

I don't prewash. on my pinwheel quilt that was vibrant batiks and white, it took about four washings with a new color catcher each time before the colors stayed put.

[Carlie Wolf]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

I agree. Those color catchers are wonder workers. I've used batiks with solid whites too.

[QuiltPAC]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

How did you know to wash it a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time with a color catcher?

[cashs mom]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

I just made a batik quilt with dark blue and some very light beiges. I didn't want to prewash so I just tossed the whole thing in the wash with 3 color catchers. They came out kind of blue but not too bad. I told the recipient to wash it with color catchers the first few times. You can just wash it with a few color catchers until they come out white (or nearly) white. Or you can let the recipient do it.

[shirleyknot]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

And don't use hot water. It isn't necessary unless the quilt has been exposed to Typhoid or some such.

[Hulamoon]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

How did you know to wash it a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time with a color catcher?

I did a test with red fabric and you can see the difference. I stopped at two washings, because I was just curious how well they worked.


haw red.jpg
P1010027.jpg

[Carlie Wolf]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

I keep tossing a color catcher in with each wash until a color catcher the dyes no longer bleed into the color catcher. So far I haven't had to do it more than 3 times max.

[kjohnson]

Re: How do I prevent precuts from bleeding?

I recently did the Courthouse Steps pattern for a Christmas gift with white strips and bright red and green next to them. I put about 6 color catchers in when I washed the completed quilt before I gave to my sister.
Only had a little bit of green on the color catchers. I washed it twice to try to get it all. The red didn't bleed, which surprised me. I'll never wash a quilt without them now. The only fabric I wash before I quilt is muslin if I use it for the backing. It tends to shrink a little more sometimes than other fabric.