COLORFAST THREAD
This is my first post as I am a retired woman returning to cross stitching after a long period. My question is about an older kit I have begun to stitch that has a lot of very dark gray and some black threads in it that I did not check for possible fading. Has anyone ever washed a finished piece and had damage done by bleeding of colors? Is there any way to avoid this now? Happy to be a part of your chit chat group! Lynn
Posted by: Lynnette on 07/02/15
Welcome to our group.

Fortunately, I have never had that problem. If you are concerned -- rinse the floss in cool water and let it air dry for a couple of days. I did this a couple of times with reds. Decided it wasn't worth the trouble. Others here will be giving you advice also.

by: NANCYE G on 07/02/15
I did have a red thread bleed on a Christmas project it took me years to complete...it was awful. Now I always cut off a piece about 12 inches long of any deep reds. I put it in a cup of hot water and see if it is colorfast. If it's ok, I start stitching with the color.
by: Cory on 07/02/15
I've never had any threads to bleed. I was in tepid (cool) water with a dot of Dawn in the sink. I don't rub, just keep dunking the project in out an the water and slosh it around a bit. Then rinse in cool running water and put on clean thick towel and roll it up for about an hour, then I press with iron without steam. It always comes out for me. Good Luck.
by: jclifford on 07/02/15
use the same method as J clifford w/ same results..
after ironing I also hang my pieces for a few days (on a clip type pants/ skirt hanger) to be sure all threads are dry before framing..
by: dbye468 on 07/02/15
Cory -- that is a great idea.
by: NANCYE G on 07/02/15
While we're on this topic, could someone remind me about overdyed threads. Which are colorfast, which are not. I know this has been discussed before, but I wasn't using them and didn't pay enough attention! :)
by: terryslat on 07/02/15
Hi Lynn and Welcome. I am a Lynn too. I am one who had the unfortunate experience of bleeding threads on a project. Luckily it was a small one. I have learned from that experience and always wash my projects in cool water with original Dawn like some of the other stitchers here. I have also learned in a pinch with bleeding to add a very small splash of white vinegar which will stop the threads from bleeding but like another post I recently responded to here, I would be cautious doing this with a color fabric because I do not know whether it would have an adverse effect on it like stripping its color. With bleeding, always let the project soak in cool water (regularly changing the cool water) until the running colors come out and don't take it out of the water to let it dry because once it dries the color stains are set, even if it takes a couple of days. Many of the good quality threads like DMC are colorfast but with kit threads some may be and some may not be, and I know that some overdye threads are not colorfast either which I do not use. As for fading that would likely be from age or exposure to the sun.
by: lbcatlovr001 on 07/02/15
Hi Lynette,
I caused a green specialty thread to bleed by using an iron dialed to "steam" after I completed the project. FIRST I screamed...then I put the whole project in cold water for a couple days, changing the water every day and "swishing" the project around. The bleeding area came out and it was an overdyed thread that caused the problem...do NOT use the steam section of your iron, that really contributed to the problem...
by: Bermuda on 07/04/15
The only overdyed threads/floss that I have found are Weeks Dye Works! If you contact their customer service, they will convert other overdyes to their colors.

I am another older stitcher and I get VERY angry when floss is labeled colorfast and then, on the back side of the label one can read that they recommend rinsing in hot water and blotting on a white towel to see if dye bleeds and repeat this until clear. Another company has one wash and rinse and rinse and rinse (you get the picture) until not bleeding. And, remember, floss should hang to dry after toweling as dry as you can get.

I want colorfast to mean colorfast. I hate losing 1-2 days of stitchy time to preparation of floss. I think it is cheating customers to say one thing and mean another! So there!
by: Su Pitt on 07/05/15
You tell'em, Su! Say what you mean, and mean what you say! :)
by: VCESS on 07/06/15