Serious question, has anyone else had a fabric bleed disaster during a wash test?

I mean, I was in my studio last night testing a new red cotton for a skirt idea. The water turned pink in under a minute, and now the white lining I had it next to is totally stained. What's your go-to method for checking colorfastness before you commit to a piece?

2 comments

2 Comments

val9493d ago

Ugh, that's the worst feeling, watching the dye just run out like that. Don't you hate when a fabric looks so good but can't hold its color at all? I usually take a small scrap and dunk it in some really hot water with a bit of my regular laundry soap. If it's going to bleed, I want to know right away before it ruins anything else. What kind of soap do you use for your wash tests?

richard2263d ago

My old art teacher swore by a 30-minute vinegar soak for new fabrics. I tried it once with some cheap indigo denim, and honestly, it just made my whole kitchen smell like pickles with no real change. These days I just cut a tiny corner swatch and torture it with hot water and soap first.