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Member since 7/9/06
Posts: 78
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Posted on: 3/8/08 3:54 PM ET
Check it out; over the holidays, I placed an order with an online vendor and one of the pieces I received - a black stretch poplin - isn't colorfast. I tried washing it, thinking maybe there is just some excess dye that needs to rinse out. But no, it is still transferring color to anything and everything it comes into contact with - my hands, table, other fabrics...

I have 5 yards of this stuff and I don't want to end up with black dye under my nails or in my pores. Is there some way to treat fabric so that it becomes color fast? Should I try to return it? And because it bleeds, does this make it poor quality, even though it has amazing drape, texture, and hand?

Suggestions? Stories? Commiserations? Anyone?
  
Member since 9/29/05
Posts: 2054
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Posted on: 3/8/08 4:49 PM ET
In reply to rosannec
My local quilt shop sells Retayne. It's a liquid that keeps dyes from running and bleeding. You just use a capful in the wash cycle.

It works great, too. There are similar products on the market. Synthropol, or such I think is the other one.

I made a red and white quilt and it kept it from turning pink.
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The single most important discovery made by a group of women? The Empty Tomb!

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Member since 7/16/07
Posts: 30016
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Posted on: 3/8/08 5:15 PM ET
In reply to rosannec
In the 60's I remember they sold Madras shirts from India that had the label "guaranteed to bleed" -- the subtle blending of colors was part of their charm. However, most fabrics are not supposed to have dye that bleeds or transfers, so although I'm certainly no expert, my guess would be that the non-colorfastness is the sign of corners being cut somewhere in production. I doubt the fabric will ever be 100% colorfast even if you treat it. It probably would have been a good idea to alert the company to this before you washed it -- they may or may not be willing to take it back now. Not that that makes you feel any better, I realize. Either way, I think you should discuss this with the vendor.
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1

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If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein

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Member since 2/25/06
Posts: 991
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Posted on: 3/8/08 5:39 PM ET
In reply to Donna H
Retayne is a dye fixing agent that works on cotton fabric. Synthrapol is a surfactant and wetting agent that is pirmarily used to rinse excess dye out of fabrics. Excess dye is a problem with a common class of dyes used for cellulose fibers because the dye will bond with the water as well as the fiber.

For more info, check out Prochem's (NAYY) Auxiliaries page for info about both Retayne and Synthrapol. Prochem also has MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for most products they sell.

Joanne
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joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:3

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Member since 3/19/04
Posts: 2557
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Posted on: 3/9/08 1:59 PM ET
When a dye rubs off on your hands, that's called "crocking", not "bleeding" - although it's pretty annoying whatever you call it. To me, this is a sign of cheap fabric - or maybe just cheap dye - but if you love the fabric otherwise, then go ahead and keep it!

I had some dark blue denim that did this. I washed it 4 - 5 times in hot water with several dye grabber sheets before using it, and that pretty much took care of the problem. Like all denim, it still bleeds a little each time the garment is washed, but my hands aren't turning blue any more.
  
Member since 7/9/06
Posts: 78
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Posted on: 3/9/08 3:04 PM ET
Crocking is a new term for me! Thanks Irene. I actually emailed the site and did receive a reply, but it was neither helpful nor apologetic. So, I sent him another request for assistance, but I'm not certain either way. In the past, I did have one jersey top, purchased at Macy's, that also "crocked" and no matter what I did, I was never able to fix the problem. So, we'll see. I'll try the dye grabber sheets and maybe some sort of dye fixative and see what happens...
  
Member since 4/11/02
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Posted on: 3/9/08 3:14 PM ET
If you *do* decide to keep it and sew with it, use a Teflon lubricant (Tri-Flow is what I have) on the bed of your sewing machine so the bleeding that will happen can be removed.
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"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
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