Fabric Dyeing Questions

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August/September Questions

Hi, My name is Kim Colbert, I was refered to you as a possible source. I am looking for someone to dye an acetate bridesmaid dress into a darker color. Any suggestions? If not is there a possibility of getting acetate fabric from you guys? Thank you for any help you may be able to give me.
Kim
Dear Kim,
Acetate is extremely difficult to dye. It requires all kinds of toxic chemicals at very high temperatures. It's relatively cheap, so I would suggest buying fabric in the color that you want. If you want to research dyeing possibilities & what that entails, look at www.prochemical.com. They supply the materials & instructions to dye anything.
Jennifer

I am planning an inexpensive wedding and will most likely be wearing a bridesmaids dress for the ceremony. However, most of the dress styles I'm interested in only come in certain colors. Is it possible to get a dress of this type dyed? I was told by one store that the colors would run as soon as the dress got wet. Can a dress be dyed more than once?
Thanks.
Nancy
Dear Nancy,
Well, it all depends. 1. The fiber content of the dress, 2. the color it is, 3. the color you want it to be. It sounds like you are talking about an acetate taffeta or satin dress; yes, the color is unstable & cannot be redyed. Also, in general, you cannot dye anything a lighter color. So if your dress is baby pink, for example, you can only dye it darker pink or red.

There is one firm that will dye individual pieces of clothing, & you can certainly talk to them about what you have in mind. Take a look at www.sampledyeing.org. . They do not guarantee the outcome, and it may be expensive, thereby negating your idea of an inexpensive wedding.

In my humble opinion, it would be far easier to find a dress at resale or consignment that suits you just as it is!! Congratulations & have fun!
Jennifer

Hello. Is it possible to dye canvas. I have a canvas cover that covers the fly bride of my houseboat. It is dark blue and I want to dye it black. I tried rit (I hope I spelt that correct) dye, but it didn't work. Can you help? Other wise this is going to be an expensive piece to have made.
Thank you.
Julia
Dear Julia,
Your question is very interesting & challenging! Here is my humble opinion on your canvas boat cover.

Canvas is usually all cotton, which can be dyed, but it may be treated with wax or some kind of waterproofing that will repel the dye. However, the biggest problem that you run into is the size of your piece. It's probably too big to go in your washer, & too big to be bucket dyed in anything but a large watering trough. Even if you got a big, big container, you might have trouble getting the dye to distribute evenly. I have a vision of you, in your back yard, standing on a ladder, stirring the giant cauldron of dye with a shovel or pitchfork.

On top of all that, black is the hardest color to obtain. It requires really hot water & a lot of salt & dye, & even then your piece may come out dark blue or grayish blue.

There is one place that you could consult about dyeing services. Take a look at www.sampledyeing.org send them a note, & see what they say.
Jennifer

Jennifer -- A friend has "handed down" a lovely washable suede skirt. The only problem is the color: It's a butternut yellow which looks great on her (a red-head), but not so hot on me. I'm wondering if I can dye it darker. I thought perhaps a black dye might turn it taupe or khaki or greyish. Anything more greyish would be good. Any suggestions?
Anna
Dear Anna,
Your washable suede skirt is most likely ultrasuede, which is polyester. This is a difficult fabric to dye. Make inquiries at www.sampledyeing.org & see what they say. They will dye single garments with a few caveats. You are definitely one step ahead if you are not specifically determined on the color.

If it is genuine leather, then do a quick google search for leather dyeing. There is a place in Colorado that will redye leather goods. I found it once, but don't have the link right now.

Good luck!
Jennifer

I have a celery colored dress made of 100% Tencel. I love the dress but not the color. I would like to dye it black...is that possible?
Thank you,
Kathy G.
Dear Kathy,
Tencel is a natural fiber derived from cellulose, similar to rayon. This means that it can be dyed. However, the answer to your question is slightly more complicated, depending on the construction, care instructions, & color of the dress.

If the care tags say that the dress can be washed, you are ahead. Dyeing requires submerging in warm water. In general, agitation is also required in order to get an even distribution of color. So if there is delicate trim or detailing, it might not withstand the process.

Construction is another factor. If it has a zipper closure, & a lot of visible stitching, you need to know that the thread & the zipper will not take the dye, but will remain their original colors.

Black is a tough color to get. It requires a lot of dye & warmer-than-usual-for-dyeing water. My guess is that it's likely that you will get a sort of charcoal-purplish-green. (Although I use black dye as a contributing color in some of my work, I do not try to dye anything solid black.) If you still want to try it yourself, get a catalog from www.dharmatrading.com & look over their instructions for vat dyeing with procion dyes.

If you want to try letting someone else change the color of the dress, contact www.sampledyeing.org. They will do individual garments, consullting with you first on the possible outcome. Have fun!
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,
I am not a dyeing expert, by any means! This is actually probably the first major attempt at dyeing anything I’ve ever contemplated. I have new couch covers that I got for the huge three piece sectional in my living room. My color scheme includes shades of a deep red, like a garnet, and sage and forest greens, with beige. I chickened out on buying the covers in red, and got a natural cotton color instead, worried that the red would be too overpowering for the room since the sectional is so large, but I’m not impressed with the effect the ultra light beige has at all. So now I’m considering dyeing it the red. Of course, red is a tricky shade to match, and I have no experience here. I’m not sure what type of dye to use or what method, or with colors to even try to mix to get it right! I’m trying to avoid spending all that money on new covers, again!
Can you help me?
Jaimie
Dear Jaimie,
You have a truly big project here. However, IF you can get the slipcovers in your washer with enough water & space around them for the dye to circulate, & IF the fabric is all cotton & has not been treated with stain repellent or any other finish, you can possibly dye them yourself.

Go to www.dharmatrading.com. You will be using the procion reactive dyes, plus a couple of basic chemicals (ordinary table salt, & soda ash, which is available at pool supply stores). Their website has a lot of information, & the catalog is jam-packed too. I suggest that you order a catalog & read it thoroughly.

In my experience, dark red is a tough color to get, especially on the first try. You will need to use a lot of red plus some black & possibly some blue. You may need to repeat the process at least once. Matching colors exactly is another story. I have been working on my dark red for some time & am finally pleased with the results.

If the covers are too big for a load in your washer, or you are concerned about getting the exact color match, contact www.sampledyeing.org about doing it for you.

Have fun!
Jennifer

Dear Jenniffer,
I am interested in buying a sofa Surefit slipcover from Ebay (they can get to have a price I can afford!!). Anyhow, when I asked the store if they had anything in raw color for me to dye, they said that they dont and they also do not recommend dying the slipcover. Problem is that the colors that I would need always go for way more than I could afford to pay, meanwhile there are other color or printed styles that are way more affordable. I am paying attention to only those slipcovers made of 100% cotton, some of them are made of cotton duck.
Can you please give me any lights and ideas??
Thansk and have a great day!
Nidia
Dear Nidia,
The reason why the seller does not recommend dyeing is because you may not be happy with the color outcome. In addition, all cotton fabric may shrink or otherwise distort out of its desired shape & size.

IF you are sure that the fabric has not been treated with stain repellent and IF the slipcover will fit easily into your washing machine, then you have a good candidate for dyeing, provided that you understand the caveats about shrinkage possibilities.

Get a catalog from www.dharmatrading.com, study their instructions about vat dyeing, and choose a color from among the procion reactive dyes.

You can also consult with www.sampledyeing.org to see what they say & how much they would charge to do the job.

You are looking at a big project. I really think it would be far better to save up for the color that you want. Dyeing is fun, but not when you are not in the mood to experiment.
Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,
I am thinking about dying white velvet a shade of green. I have not purchased the material yet, but figure it will be a cotton based velvet. Can I do this with rits dye? Im very concerned about future washing and or dry cleaning since it is a bed skirt for a client. Also, if I dyed some fleece (white) in the same shade as the velvet, would it come out pretty much the dame color? Will there be any problem getting the die even in the velvet all the way to the bottom of the pile?
Robin
Dear Robin,
I regularly dye velvet & it comes out beautifully. You want to vat dye it in the washer using procion reactive dyes. Go to www.dharmatrading.com for information on using these dyes.

The most important thing is that the velvet be silk & rayon. Velvet is made of acetate, nylon, some other fibers, in addition to silk/rayon, so check fiber content carefully. Alternatively, you can use cotton velveteen. I have not dyed this fabric, but it will also take the reactive dyes beautifully. You can find the silk/rayon velvet on the fabrics.net website. Silk/rayon velvet & cotton velveteen are also available from dharma. Once these fabrics have been dyed & run through an additional wash load using synthropol, they can be washed separately in the washer with good results.

Experiment a little with colors before you plunge in with a big piece of fabric for your client. You can order some extra fabric & do some half yard samples to see how it goes. I do all my velvet dyeing in the washer with excellent, even, vivid results.

Now, fleece is generally a polyester fiber which does not take dye easily. If you want something to come out in generally the same color family, choose a natural fiber such as cotton, linen, rayon, or silk.
Have fun!
Jennifer

I just discovered that I have a few bleach spots on my jeans on the upper leg. I was wondering if you have any tips on how I could dye these to be normal-jean color? I just bought the jeans, and I don't want to have to buy another pair!! Please help!! Thanks!
Dear Mandy,
I am sorry, you cannot restore bleach spots on clothing. Something about the chlorine bleach prevents the fibers from taking dye again. We all have an occasional laundry disaster.
Jennifer

Dear Jennifer
I have been given a lovely pashmina stole (70per cent pashmina, 30per cent silk) which is so soft and gorgeous. The only trouble is the colour - bright pink! I'm really into more muted shades. I'm not too fussy about the final colour (darker pinks/reds, russet, browns, whatever) as long as it's darker. Is there any way of dyeing it?
Thanks
Alex
Dear Alex,
It is possible to dye a natural fiber like pashmina, but there is no guarantee to the outcome, either in color or texture. I do not have experience dyeing wool, cashmere, angora, or other similar hair fibers, so I cannot speak directly. Take a look at www.prochemical.com to see what they say about dyeing wool & similar fibers. In my understanding, this kind of dyeing must be done with very hot water (on top of the stove) & you run a risk of the fabric felting, twisting, or shrinking.

I am sorry that the color does not suit you, because a pashmina shawl is truly a lovely thing. Perhaps you could give it to someone as a gift & get yourself one that is a better color.
Jennifer

Hello Jennifer-
What a great column!
2 questions 1 - best recommendations for dyeing dupioni without wrecking the finish? I Handwashed a blouse once & it lost it's hand, the 'crunch'. Anyway to restore it? I gather it needs the sericin put back in, so i thought of getting some raw silk fiber to wash it with & hopefully put the sericin back. What do you think?
2. Whats the best way to remove color from silk? I bought yarn on ebay, 90%silk 10% cashmere beautiful- but color wasn't as expected, so I'd like to lighten it & overdye. End color does NOT have to be exactly even... Thanks in advance.
-Rosanna
Dear Rosanna,
I don't know of a way to get that crisp hand back to washed dupioni. You can always dry clean if you want it to stay that way. I generally wash dupioni before construction so that it shrinks & ends up the way it will be in the finished garment.

As for your yarn, check with www.dharmatrading.com or www.prochemical.com. Both carry products for removing dyes (discharging). In general, wool is dyed in very hot water on the stove. It's a big & potentially messy job. Maybe you are called on to experiment with a this new color, the one you say you don't like. Stranger things have happened. I went a whole new direction in my creative life when my friend gave me a vintage jacket in a color that I didn't think I liked.
Have fun,
Jennifer

Is it possible to color a light colored naughahyde fabric (bench) to a darker color. Currently it is a light gray color and I would be willing to go to a black or dark brown?
Thanks for your suggestions re products and process.
Ann Marie
Dear Ann Marie,
Go to a leather or shoe repair establishment & ask them your question. Naugahyde, which a sort of vinyl, is not a thing that can be dyed using fabric processes. You will need a leather or vinyl dye, which is a sort of paint. You can also search the internet for vinyl dyeing. It might be just as easy to re-upholster the bench with new naugas.
Have fun,
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer…
I am so pleased to have found your column.
I have a question…that seems to be a struggle to get some answers to.
I acquired an amazing vintage sheath and ¾ sleeved jacket at a recent estate sale. I estimate it to be 30 years old. It is a cream and silver brocade fabric…not entirely sure what the fabric content is. It has silver metallic thread running through it…and a nylon? acetate? lining.
My dry cleaner was able to get the heavy smoke smell out…but the discoloration of the fabric remains.
I really want to over dye it black…thinking that the metallic threads will remain silver and the effect would be cool. However…nobody does clothing that I can find. I even tried the cobblers in the area. So…I would like to attempt to do it myself…I have little to lose otherwise.
I am dying to wear it to an event I have 11/5…so any advice you might have would be terrific. What kind of dye? How much? How do I determine what the fabric is exactly? Anything…please…HELP.
Thanks…Kate
Dear Kate,
I have some experience with this sort of thing, & here's what I would say about your project.
1. The outfit, which sounds fantastic, is probably a combination of acetate, polyester, metallic - maybe some rayon. My guess is that it will take the dye, but not at full strength.
2. Black is the hardest color to get anyway, even with all natural fibers, so there is virtually no chance that you will get a deep, even black. More like a charcoal tint, if I had to guess.
3. The lining, zippers, even the thread will not take the dye & will remain the ivory/off white that they are now.
4. Remember, dyeing is a water-based process, so the whole outfit will have to be submerged & agitated in order to dye. It must be sturdy enough to handle all this. I really do advocate doing this sort of thing in the washer for the best possible even results.But of course this can also result in shrinkage or stress to the fabric.
5. Even in the best circumstances there is a good chance that there could be unseen spots or discolorations on the fabric that would make it dye with uneven spots.
6. Okay, with all those warnings, I think you have an interesting project if you are willing to take whatever color it comes out. If you really do not like the current color or it looks awful on you, you could go for a warm brown or a lavender & see what happens. I wouldn't try black, unless you want gray.
7. Another option is to contact www.sampledyeing.org & see if they would take it on. This is a place in New Jersey that will do individual garments.

Sometimes these sorts of experiments are marvelous!! And sometimes they are disasters. If you do not have any experience dyeing fabric, look at www.dharmatrading.com & read their instructions carefully. They carry everything you will need. I do not recommend rit.

Have fun & write back if you want to discuss further,
Jennifer

 

You can ask Jennifer questions at dizzylettuce@Fabrics.net.

Jennifer Thompson Miller: I love my work in beautiful textiles, color, trim, and design! I am a devoted student of fashion history and love vintage and vintage-inspired looks. For many years, my main focus was fashion sewing, using natural fibers in beautiful colors. In recent years, much to my delight, I have learned color mixing and silk dyeing. This has added a vibrant, versatile dimension to my fashion design.

I learned design and needlework from my mother and grandmother, and I am very grateful for their inspiration and instruction. Some of my earliest memories are spending time in the fabric store, while my mother designed and picked out fabrics for glamorous outfits. From the age of ten, my mother and other fashion-conscious ladies would ask my opinions on fabrics that they were combining.

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