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I've been working on my first HAED now, and while I'm doing a part some of the crosses become completely discolored and gray while im working with pink. It happened with most colors I have used. It looks pretty horrible and I have no idea how to fix this problem. I tried washing it but it stays gray. Could it be from the needle or something else? Maybe I got fake threads? Please help.

How disappointing that must be!

I've never had that problem but have a few questions...just take them as they are, no offense intended! What brand of floss are you using? Do you wash your hands often? Do other people see this on your masterpiece?

edited to add: Are you looking at this in bright daylight, and a last question that I'm asking in total curiosity; when was the last time you had your eyes checked?

You don't have to answer these questions here on the forum. They are just all the options that came to my head after reading your op.

I do hope you get it figured out & quick! Good luck.

backafteradozenyrs wrote:How disappointing that must be!

I've never had that problem but have a few questions...just take them as they are, no offense intended! What brand of floss are you using? Do you wash your hands often? Do other people see this on your masterpiece?

edited to add: Are you looking at this in bright daylight, and a last question that I'm asking in total curiosity; when was the last time you had your eyes checked?

You don't have to answer these questions here on the forum. They are just all the options that came to my head after reading your op.

I do hope you get it figured out & quick! Good luck.

No offense taken I'm using dmc threads. I don't really wash my hands before I start stitching. I showed someone and she immediately knew what I meant. There are some crosses that dont have the intended color, but are grayish.

I had my eyes checked a year ago and I'm shortsighted, so no problem with stitching. Im 18 years old, so I don't think I will have problems with that soon

It's really bothering me and I decided to start over but first I wanna find out why this is happening. I do have sweaty hands, could that be a problem?

If it is at all possible for you to post pictures as an example, that would help as well.

One thing I thought of: Are your threads being stored/left out in direct sunlight? Maybe there is some kind of fading thing going on? Or were they exposed to some sort of liquid or something that would discolor them? Do you wear a certain kind of lotion or product on your hands?

Also, does your needle show any signs of wear or discoloring?

This is truly an odd problem, so I'm just brainstorming possible ideas!

Has this happened with other stitching projects, or did it just start with this current project?

I would definitely suggest you wash your hands before picking up your stitching just as a matter of good practice, but I can't say I've ever heard of skin oils permanently discoloring the threads. Maybe you're coming on contact with something -- a product with bleach in it, maybe -- and even though your hands don't feel 'dirty', you're transfering it to your threads. Does the fabric get discolored, too, or just the stitches? What kind of frame are you using, if any? I'm wondering how much the stitched area is getting handled while you work.

The only thing I'd offer is maybe using a better quality needle. I think regular needles are made of nickel? I've heard of folks having problems when inexpensive metals contact their skin -- something in the skin oil reacts with the metal. Try a gold or a platinum needle. They're more expensive but getting a couple to try won't break the bank.

Elinoir wrote: It's really bothering me and I decided to start over but first I wanna find out why this is happening. I do have sweaty hands, could that be a problem?

I have sweaty hands constantly but have never had threads change color. I've noticed some of my hand dyed fabric fading where I handle it a lot, but not the floss. I don't think your issue is from your sweaty hands. This is a mystery.

First thing I'd suggest is washing your hands before sitting down to work each time. I know that sounds like a pain, but think about how much your work is getting handled over the length of time it will take to stitch it. It does build up over the months that it takes to stitch a HAED.

But more specific to this piece - how long after you stitch is the problem showing up? Is it only in one area, or all over the place? Is it one single DMC thread color that is turning grey, or multiple threads?

I would try troubleshooting it by using the same threads on a different fabric and seeing if the same thing happens. Then, try a different brand of needle and the same threads on a different fabric.. and on the edges of your current fabric, and see if the same thing happens. Basically, test out all the variables, and see which ones continue to have the same problem, and which ones eliminate it.. That will help you to narrow the problem down and fix it.

One last thing... are you completely positive that the color of the floss is changing? Is it placed next to another color that washed the color out visually to make it look grey? That happens quite a bit.. a floss looks one way in the skein, but looks completely different next to another color.

Oh.. one more thought.. I wonder if there is some chemical in the fabric from the dyeing process that is causing a reaction. Like I said, test the same color on a few different scraps of fabric and see if they all do the same thing. If it only happens on this one fabric, that is a possiblity.

Elinoir wrote:...I had my eyes checked a year ago and I'm shortsighted, so no problem with stitching. Im 18 years old, so I don't think I will have problems with that soon...

Ok, but have you ever had the color-blind test done?

This is probably a silly question, but have you checked the unused floss to make sure it isn't discolored, stained, etc.? I've never had problems with DMC. This is a puzzler.

Elinoir wrote: Maybe I got fake threads?

As has been suggested, do some detective work and find out which colours are fading.

I presume that since you've asked the question that you have been buying your threads from eBay (for instance) in order to save a bit of money? You might very well have been sold fakes. Some suppliers from certain countries routinely do this -- not everyone can be trusted (caveat emptor and all that). Maybe it doesn't matter on small stuff (although I don't subscribe to this view), but on a bit HAED project, the quality of your materials makes a huge difference.

I would have never thought fake DMC. I am truly amazed at the things people will fake these days. I purchased some EOS chapstick at walmart, then my dog ate it, while looking online to check if it was toxic to him ie needing vet call. I read people saying the had been had by purchasing fakes on ebay my first thought was chapstick on ebay...I mean who takes the time tom fake a 2.99 usd chapstick? Now to hear of fake 0.35 usd skeins of thread. Ugh.....really???
Reason 374 I hope to never get started on ebay..my budget remains number 1 LoL

maemae0410 wrote:I would have never thought fake DMC. I am truly amazed at the things people will fake these days. I purchased some EOS chapstick at walmart, then my dog ate it, while looking online to check if it was toxic to him ie needing vet call. I read people saying the had been had by purchasing fakes on ebay my first thought was chapstick on ebay...I mean who takes the time tom fake a 2.99 usd chapstick? Now to hear of fake 0.35 usd skeins of thread. Ugh.....really???
Reason 374 I hope to never get started on ebay..my budget remains number 1 LoL

A little off topic, but several customers that have come into my work call it fee-bay.

Put me off from wanting to sell things on there for sure.

maemae0410 wrote:..... Now to hear of fake 0.35 usd skeins of thread. Ugh.....really???....

Except.. you have to remember it's only that cheap here in the US.. elsewhere in the world, they pay anywhere between $1-2 per skein.

EBay has its uses.. I've bought some completer pieces to my and my sister's china patterns. And for the commercial coffee pot at work.. odd things. I think of it as an online flea market. Some treasures, some trash. Some priced for a steal.. others waaay overpriced. But you have to weed through it all to find what you are looking for.

MaggieM1750 wrote: Except.. you have to remember it's only that cheap here in the US.. elsewhere in the world, they pay anywhere between $1-2 per skein.

I think of it as an online flea market.

Ah Maggie you always remember us poor overseas folk! UK prices are bad enough but mainland Europe are some of the worst!

I call Ebay Flea-bay for the very reason you mentioned! I love it and it really helps to top up your stash when you can grab bargains like a metre of Belfast Linen for less than half the price a fat quarter would cost you in your LNS/ONS!

Elinoir - I hope you get to the bottom of this mystery, it baffles me why this is happening to your thread!?

Wow you make me feel ashamed that I thought it was bad I bought 30 today for .48 cents each...

I couldn't imagine at $1-2 each.

A quick comparison between two online sites I use. DMC threads range in price between 72p and 80p a skein. Using an online currency converter at £1=$1.65, these skeins vary in price from $1.19 to $1.32. For DMC pearl cotton ＃5 the prices range from £1.16 to £1.22 ($1.92 to $2.02) for a regular 25m skein. A LNS will probably be more.

Yikes! That's really expensive!

I have had the problem of light pinks, and whites getting discolored, I too get sweaty hands. when the thread starts going grey I end it, snip it and wash my hands again.