Do your fabrics ever "bleed"? Do you know how to "test" fabric for bleeding?

A fabulous tip to share:

I know many of you sew or craft. I love to quilt. It is a passion on mine. A quilt is an item to be treasured. Because it is an item of value, using top quality fabric in your quilt is imperative. Nothing is worse or more heart breaking than getting a fabric that bleeds. I know you quilters and seamstresses know what I am talking about. With that in mind, I decided it would be nice to pass along a tip every now and then to inspire others to keep the sewing and quilting craft alive. I have learned much from others during the sewing years of my life. Now, I want to periodically offer an occasional tip so as to help others who either currently sew, or inspire to.

How many of you have purchased fabric only to have it bleed? It can ruin an otherwise beautiful, handcrafted item before you ever get it done. Here is a helpful tip I came across.
I am sharing it with you here today.

*Some quilting cottons bleed--lose their dyes when washed--especially fabrics with vivid colors like red and purple. The dyes can stain other fabrics in your wash load or patches in a finished quilt. Perform this easy bleed test on any cotton fabrics you suspect might bleed.

Perform the Bleed Test

1. Submerge a small piece of a fabric in soapy water--a 2-inch square is fine. Use the same soap and water temperature you normally use to wash fabrics and quilts.
2. Let the fabric sit in the soapy solution for about 30 minutes, then check to see if the water is discolored. If it is, the fabric bleeds and the dyes could potentially damage other fabrics.
3. If the water is clear, try one more thing to make sure the dyes won't transfer onto adjacent fabrics when wet. Remove the patch and, without rinsing, place it on a white paper towel. Wait a bit and check to see if dye has transferred onto the toweling. If it did, chances are good that it will transfer dye onto adjacent patches when your quilt is washed.
4. Rinse out the soap and dry your test patch, then perform the bleed test again. If bleeding continues, do not use the fabric in your quilts.

If you can't bear not to use a fabric that bleeds or transfers, purchase a commercial dye fixative, such as Retayne, to help make the dyes more permanent. Treat a snip of fabric, following the instructions carefully, then try the bleed test again.
Most fabrics produced by companies that cater to quilters do not bleed, but it's a good idea to do a bleed test on all vivid fabrics until you have a good understanding of which fabrics you can trust.

I hope this tip helps you today with your quilting and sewing endeavors.
Connie

Article source: From About.com
http://quilting.about.com/od/fabricembellishment/qt/bleed_test.htm