Signed Pillowcase Question - help fill in the blank PLEASE!

[champagne27]

Hi - I thought I might try the crafty people here to help me. I have a pillowcase for my kids that the characters signed while on the cruise. It was signed with Sharpies.

I thought that I had read somewhere that you should soak/wash them in __________ to help set the colors before using/multiple washes.

Has anyone ever heard of anything along these lines or is this some weird thing I dreamed all those crazy nights before our trip ?

Thanks!

 

[ceiligh1]

I thought it was vinigar (sp?) to set the color. You could also try a product called Retayne that is used to fix commercially dyed cotton fabric. We use it for quilts, you should be able to find it in fabric stores.
Here is a good site to look at as I am not sure what type of ink you will be trying to set.
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/settingdye.shtml
good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[lewdyan1]

I don't have an answer, but my kids decorate pillowcases with Sharpies all the time and I never set them. After a few years they start to lighten a little (not bad). I look forward to hearing if anything helps!

 

[vanyel]

Vinegar was the first thought that came to my mind too but I'm not sure if that was to set something or to wash before painting or decorating fabric? Sorry.

 

[ulittletinker]

My daugher has her class mate sign her t-shirt last year with a sharpie, and I cant tell you how many times I have washed it. What I did was Iron the pilliowcase when we got home to heat set.

 

[champagne27]

I think I will try the iron to heat set - good idea! I tried to research the vinegar and there seems to be a bunch of conflicting info so I will go the iron route and live with any fading!

Thanks for all the responses!

 

[Marypoppinsiam]

The heat setting does work.