Yarn bleeding problem

Red dye is notorious for bleeding/ crocking. I've had commercial garments that bled every time they were washed.

Setting color - I think the usual thing is to wash it with white vinegar and/ or salt.

For hands - hand cream or cold cream might loosen it before washing. If that didn't work, I'd try rubbing alcohol, turpentine, or nail polish remover (acetone). Steel wool as a last resort. :-)

Bamboo needles might be hard to remove the dye from. If washing and gentle scrubbing (perhaps with a green Scrubbie[TM]?) don't work, maybe bleach would take it off. Then I'd wax the needles before putting them in the yarn again, or switch to aluminum or cheap plastic that I could discard if necessary.

Maybe skeining and washing the yarn as if it were a dyebath would help either make the dye soak in or, alternatively, remove the excess.

=Tamar

Sarah, nearly every yarn that is from Hobby Lobby's "house brand" (i.e. Yarn Bee and the like) will bleed. It's unbelievable how badly, too. I'd stock the stuff on the shelves, and my hands would look like I'd been tie-dying shirts all day. The shelves under our yarns would turn colors if we didn't periodically rotate the skeins.

Anastasia

Who used to work there and is VERY happy she no longer does.

You could try washing it all in Viniger [good quality ] but jusyt to be sure how bad it is ,, cut a piece off wet it and put it on white tissue paper , see how much it colors the paper??? mirjam

Sarah, I have never heard of yarn "bleeding" in this fashion - I know some colours can run in the wash - especially if the water is hot but as for the colour coming off on the hands and needles that just astounds me.

My nasty imagination could see the recipients neck colour after wearing the scarf !!** God Bless Gwen

I've never bought any yarn from Hobby Lobby because there are none in my area. In general, I always take back anything I'm dissatisfied with unless the cost is insignificant. If I had the problem you described, I would take the yarn and the needles to the store, explain the problem and ask (assertively but not demandingly) for refund on the yarn and replacement cost of the needles.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I've got plenty of white vinegar floating around the house from when I canned (jarred or bottled for those abroad) pickles and salsa. I'll try washing the yarn and setting the dye with the vinegar and we'll see what happens. I've never heard of waxing the needles before. I don't have any loose wax floating around, but I do have a bunch of candles. Would I just rub the needles along the candles until they look waxy? Would this make the yarn more difficult to slide on the needles? Sarah C.

Sarah, use waxed paper drawing the needle through it once or twice then buff briskly with a clean cloth or paper towel. DA

I think wax would make it easier to slide the yarn, as long as it's a very thin coat and well rubbed. Wax is used to make wooden drawers and metal zippers slide more easily.

=Tamar