I cannot seem to prevent the darker colored thread from bleeding into the lighter colors. I use color preserver but it still bleeds. How can I prevent this.

Thanks,

You need to close up the gaps between the threads to prevent bleed through. You do this by packing your overwrap threads and burnishing them with a burnishing tool, back of a teaspoon, or the equivalent. On your dark underwrap you can use 2-3 coats of color preserver, or just a thin coat of epoxy on the underwrap without CP, depending on the color you're looking for. What you want is a firm coating on the underwrap to lock the threads in place so you can pack and burnish your overwrap thread. Color preserver dries pretty quickly as you know, so if you just use CP you can probably just allow it to dry overnight. If you use a thin coat of epoxy finish (either with or without CP), make sure you allow it time to cure before you attempt your overwrap (2 days minimum) so that it's hard enough for you to be able to have the thread move easily when you pack it. Color preserver on your lighter thread won't help if your wraps aren't packed well.

When you say "bleeding" do you mean show through, not actual bleeding or running of the color? Light colored thread is not opaque enough to prevent some show through or darkening from a darker layer below. Wetting the upper layer with either CP or epoxy does not make it more opaque. CP just preserves the color. An NCP thread helps as it has a chalk content to help make it colorfast and less translucent.

Hi,

This is why I use metallic thread. The only metallic thread color that I can not use over a dark color is pearl. Works for me for many years. Now that being said, metallic thread can take a bit of getting use to. It is springy especially after you cut it at the end of a wrap, at the spool end. It also can be damaged while burnishing if burnished too hard as the color can be rubbed off. For me these are minimal problems.

Capt Neil Faulkner