How do you prewash yarn and not have it tangle? Help!!!

[Amber&TuckersMom]

I'm asking people who have more experience with yarn than I do. This is what happened, I made an afghan for my Mom, 4 feet x 5 feet. The chair that she
sits and rocks in is 4 feet across. She is 5 feet tall (give or take), the colors are red
and off white. And yes, you guessed it: the red bled onto the off white. it is now
not quite pink but no longer off white either. Because it is going to Mom and
I won't tell, she won't know. However, my brother wants navy and white.
Now we come back to the original question: how do I prewash the yarn so that it won't bleed/tangle? Help!!!

[Anaisa]

I would read the labels because now a days that the yarn shouldn't bleed anymore...I honestly don't know...I will let some one else take this one...sorry this happened to ya....

[nothingnowhere]

I wash everything in cold water.... But check the lables jut to be safe.

[Barbara G.]

This is a great question and I am very curious to see how others may respond to it. Thanks for asking!

[crochetgal]

If you need to prewash the yarn, you can put the ball into a nylon bag and toss it into the machine, following the directions on the label. This is one of the reasons I still keep pantihose around!

Just make sure to take the label off first!

[justplainjudy]

I've never had that happen to me, and I've washed red, navy, white all together.So I haven't a clue. I guess it depends on the yarn. I would advise listening to Crochetgal. Judy

[Maryjane]

I have never had a problem with yarn bleeding either! Perhaps it was the yarn you used?

[twinfaye]

I have not made anything with contrasting colors that were that much difference so when I wash the one I made for the granddaughter I will tell you. Washing the yarn before using is a new one for me. I'd take the label off and wash it in a bag or pillowcase or something that keeps it intact. Good luck!!

[Sweet Sue]

Of the 100 or more afghans that I've made, I have never had one bleed, so it could be the yarns they are making these days, but I used to cross stitch designs on sweatshirts and when I was done, I would soak them in warm water with about a 1/4/-1/2 cup of white vinegar to set the colors, then wash them in the machine to rinse out the vinegar. Maybe that would work for your afghan.

[amanda]

I haven't had any problrms with them running. I roll the up in balls wtap rubber band arond them and put each one in a socck and put rubber band on end of sock it works for in washer and dryer check to make sure they are still attached before you put in dryer. I did't check once and there was a few that got tangled. I know this sounds weird but i can untangle anything quick. My husband brought home 3 HUGE boxes of cords to computers, phones phone chargers and much more i was done in 1 and a half days.