A Finisher's Perspective on: Colorfast (and Not So Colorfast) Threads (Originally published July 2019)
For whatever reason, my eyes are just drawn to hand-dyed variegated threads. They're beautiful. Their flowing color gives us the in-between shades that we just can't get with solidcolored thread. They allow us to mimic the variation that we might find in an alpine meadow, or a beautiful sunset on a partly cloudy day.
Threads like these are, however, often susceptible to bleeding. With just a few droplets of distilled water on the rosy thread pictured above, the dye released after a matter of seconds!
This release of dye can be a potential nightmare for finishers, which is why we ask about it on our finishing forms. Here at Rittenhouse Needlepoint, we wet block most of your pieces - after testing the fibers for colorfastness, of course. Wetting the fibers, and the canvas underneath them, allows us to redirect the tensions in a badly skewed needlepoint. It requires, sometimes, a dozen dry-blocks to get the same results that you can get through a wet-block. This is not an exact science, obviously. Sometimes the paint used when the canvas was designed can release pigment once it is wetted. Sometimes the color bleeding will come from unexpected sources such as beads!
The most obvious sources of color bleeding will come from reds, greens, and dark colors. We test anywhere that a dark colored thread touches a very light color. Christmas-themed pieces such as green holly leaves with red berries on a white background are a perfect example of this.
But I am not here to tell you that you can't have it all! Working with these specialty threads simply requires a little extra care. Subscribe Past Issues Translate One option is to get in the habit of stitching on stretcher bars or a scroll frame so that your piece does not skew as badly (and therefore, does not need to be blocked as intensely). If you are a very tight stitcher, loosening up a little is also helpful.
You can also try to 'fix' the dyes in these fibers at home. After you've purchased your beautiful hand-dyed threads, take the tags off and make a bath of tepid to cool water and white vinegar. I like to do half and half, but 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water will work just as well. Let them soak, and then rinse thoroughly with tepid water to ditch the vinegar smell. Spread them out on a clean towel and allow them to dry.
And of course, if you know you have used threads prone to releasing dyes, you can always request to have your needlepoint 'dryblocked only.' The cost of finishing includes 1-2 blockings, so it may cost you a little more, but it will give you the peace of mind on your beautiful heirloom piece!
Thank you for continuing to trust us with your beautiful needlework. If you have any additional tips or tricks for working with not-so-colorfast threads, send them our way! We'd love to hear from you.