It is the time of year again that I start thinking about Christmas designs, and that always brings me back to one of my pet peeves of crocheting; the fact that red thread almost always bleeds onto other colors.
I love using red in my designs; to me there is nothing prettier than a red Irish rose.
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| The red Irish roses really make the Hummingbirds and Roses Doily |
And honestly, I wouldn't know how to do a Christmas design without using red.
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| "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" |
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| The cottage from "Christmas in Gingerbread Land" |
I have been told by some that DMC thread is colorfast, but I have also heard stories that it will run, too. I have been told to soak the thread in salt water or vinegar; but I cannot figure out how to wind 350 yards of size 10 thread off of it's cardboard center and wash it, without ending up with a tangled mess. And honestly, who really wants to go to all that trouble just to be able to use a product that should be colorfast anyway?
So now, I just include a warning on my patterns that red thread tends to bleed, so be careful not to get it wet. Since most of my items do not get a lot of use (I use them for decoration, so they don't get dirty) this works for me.
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| Vintage potholders from the 40's |
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| A few rust stains, but no bleeding of the colors! |
So, my question is this; if it was possible to make colorfast red thread in the past, why can't it be made now?
I hope some smart thread company will come out with a red thread that is truly colorfast; when they do, I know they will make many crocheters happy.
5 comments:
Looking foward to the Christmas designs!! I don't have a problem with bleed too much..I think it depends on the quality of the thread. No stores around here carry anything other than royal or aunt lydia. I am not a fan of either. So I order online and buy a whole bunch at one time..for dye lots..
When I read the subject of this post, I just knew it was going to be about bleeding. I totally agree. I've had problems with several colors bleeding, and from various thread makers. It is so frustrating. I bought several balls of gorgeous hand-dyed thread online and imagine my dismay when the colors bled. :( I try to remember to check the threads before using them, but sometimes in my excitement to use the thread, I don't...and then regret it later. An online friend once suggested to me that I take a small piece of the thread in question and put it between two layers of damp/wet paper towels. Leave it for a little while...usually 15-30 min. is plenty...and if there is no color on your paper towel you're good to go. Otherwise you might want to choose a different thread.
Have a nice day! :)
I love the hummingbird doily, as you know. Thanks for letting me know about this. I'll tell my mother. Your doily was her Christmas gift last year.
I have yet to find a red thread expensive or not that doesn't bleed. Sometimes blue thread will bleed. If you look on the old balls of Coats&Clark's, Lily, etc. it says "boilfast". I take this to mean it is colorfast. I see all sorts of Christmas doily patterns but am afraid of the bleed over.
OMG!! What a wonderful crafts!!!!
I`m completely in love!!
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