color bleeding

[OH tie-dyer]

I've been looking around the forum recently. I have noticed in some people's tie-dyes there is little to no bleeding of colors. In most of my tie-dyes the lines are not this sharp. I was wondering if there is any specific technique to get this.

Thanks in advance.

[tiedyejudy]

If you are trying to get colors to line up next to each other without mixing, be sure to add a thickener to your dyes, either sodium alginate or Dharma's Superclear.  The more you add in, the less the dyes will migrate.  I personally like some mixing, because I think it adds to the interest of the piece.  But since I started using thickener, I do have more control over the flow of the dyes.
If you are referring to 'back-dyeing', where dyes bleed into the white area, be sure you are using Synthrapol to wash the garments after you have dyed and let them set for the 'cure' period. 

Hope that helps,

Judy 

[Snugglebug]

I've noticed the dryer my fabric, the less lateral spread there is because it's so rapidly absorbed with direct application.  Moisture seems act as a resist, not allowing the dye to absorb but flow along the top.  That is where I get some wanted and some unwanted bleeding of color.  Also, it depends upon the type of fabric.  Knit t-shirts seem to accept the dye different than say tightly woven cotton.  I've done some scrub tops where the dye pools on the fabric before absorption.  Sometimes that creates some fabulous effects though!