Washing fabric one fabric at a time?
04-30-2011, 07:29 PM
#44
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Port Lavaca, TX
Posts: 1,276
Originally Posted by Flying_V_Goddess
In the debate of whether or not you pre-wash your fabrics, I take the side the pre-washing because I don't want to run into any sort of surprises. I wash my fabrics one at a time on the smallest load because I worry about colors running together.
That's kind of a problem. Though I am trying to put in an effort to change this, I still live with my mother. It seems like she'll nag at me about every little thing. The other day I went and washed one of the fabrics for my Shuriken Packer quilt and she nagged at me because it was the only item in the wash.
I guess this is not a huge problem as I don't have a lot of fabrics to wash.........................yet. My big project requires about 70 or so different colors of marble/watercolor fabrics. I definatly worry about color fast-ness on this one as there are so many fabrics and a lot of subtle color variation that I don't want to ruin because excess dye got into other fabrics. But even if I had my own washer and dryer, doing 70 loads for each indivual fabric is a bit ridiculous.
What can I do to avoid colors possibly running together without having to do so many loads of laundry?
That's kind of a problem. Though I am trying to put in an effort to change this, I still live with my mother. It seems like she'll nag at me about every little thing. The other day I went and washed one of the fabrics for my Shuriken Packer quilt and she nagged at me because it was the only item in the wash.
I guess this is not a huge problem as I don't have a lot of fabrics to wash.........................yet. My big project requires about 70 or so different colors of marble/watercolor fabrics. I definatly worry about color fast-ness on this one as there are so many fabrics and a lot of subtle color variation that I don't want to ruin because excess dye got into other fabrics. But even if I had my own washer and dryer, doing 70 loads for each indivual fabric is a bit ridiculous.
What can I do to avoid colors possibly running together without having to do so many loads of laundry?
04-30-2011, 07:39 PM
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 7,850
I also use color catchers and they are great. I surge the raw edges of my fabric before I wash it and I put lights together or medium or darks. I use my cycle on washer that is quick wash or delicate. Then I dry in dryer on low heat. Have had not problem doing all of this. I don't wash one piece alone unless it is 4 to 6 yards.
04-30-2011, 09:56 PM
#46
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
Originally Posted by TonnieLoree
Originally Posted by justflyingin
Originally Posted by TonnieLoree
Originally Posted by MadQuilter
Originally Posted by grann of 6
Personally, if it was me and I had that many pieces to wash, I would be doing it in the bathroom sink by hand.
The others, I wring out and then roll them up in a towel to get excess water out before ironing them dry. Works like a charm.
Why?
05-01-2011, 12:18 AM
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 975
Originally Posted by irishrose
I would sort them into whites, lights and darks and wash them with color catchers. I prewash large pieces of fabric with my regular laundry and a CC. I do all my laundry on gentle and rarely have much fraying.
I do have close to ten yards of black prints - those two pieces will be washed together with nothing else.
I do have close to ten yards of black prints - those two pieces will be washed together with nothing else.
05-01-2011, 05:35 AM
#48
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: San Antonio, FL
Posts: 62
Hi: I prewash all my fabrics in hot water in Retayne to make sure they remain color fast. I put all dark fabrics in a separate load
and I do throw in a Shout Color sheet in case excess dyes come out. I prewash all the light colors together separately also in hot water with retayne. It works great and the colors stay crisp and the blacks remain black.
and I do throw in a Shout Color sheet in case excess dyes come out. I prewash all the light colors together separately also in hot water with retayne. It works great and the colors stay crisp and the blacks remain black.
05-01-2011, 10:50 AM
#49
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 7,850
Where do you get the Retayne and is it liquid? Thanks Suzanne
Originally Posted by quiltinNsmilin
Hi: I prewash all my fabrics in hot water in Retayne to make sure they remain color fast. I put all dark fabrics in a separate load
and I do throw in a Shout Color sheet in case excess dyes come out. I prewash all the light colors together separately also in hot water with retayne. It works great and the colors stay crisp and the blacks remain black.
and I do throw in a Shout Color sheet in case excess dyes come out. I prewash all the light colors together separately also in hot water with retayne. It works great and the colors stay crisp and the blacks remain black.
05-01-2011, 10:58 AM
#50
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: San Antonio, FL
Posts: 62
You can buy 16 oz. plastic bottles of it at an LQS - priced around
$6.95. You can also buy it online from JoAnn. Their bottles
are 4 oz. They were on sale last week 50% off. even so, surprisingly, they were slightly more expensive than my LQS
$6.95. You can also buy it online from JoAnn. Their bottles
are 4 oz. They were on sale last week 50% off. even so, surprisingly, they were slightly more expensive than my LQS
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