Name: Shirleen
Message: I just finished and tossed in the washer a small quilt I used dyed fabrics. I used synthrapol SP but the magenta-dyed fabric blead on the front and on the back. This is the second time this has happened so I grabbed the synthrapol ahead of time. How do I get this magenta color out without wreaking the quilt?

Always prewash your fabric before you begin to piece your quilt! Test the dye in the fabric before you begin by dampening it and pressing it with a hot iron between white cotton cloths. If any dye transfers to the white pressing cloths, you must not use the fabric for quilting until after you have corrected the problem.

Synthrapol cannot set dye, as it is only a detergent (albeit a very good one). All it can do is help remove excess unattached dye. Before you cut out your fabric for quilting, wash it several times in hot water, with Synthrapol, and if it still fails the press test, treat it with a cationic dye fixative such as Retayne, then test again. Never quilt with a fabric that is not washfast.

Once you have already made the mistake of quilting with a non-washfast fabric, the only possible solution is washing until you get the unwanted dye out. This does not always work. Synthrapol may help a little with the washing. Hot water is more effective than cold at removing unwanted dye, but also encourages further running. Cold water is best when you're trying to discourage running. Retayne is no help at this stage because it will also fix the unwanted dye where it ran. A dye remover such as Rit Color Remover may remove the color you want as well as the color you do not want.

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