Fabric Dyeing Questions

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February Questions

Years ago when I had shoes dyed to match a dress I ended the night with navy stained feet. I wanted to dye another pair for a wedding but what can I do to prevent the dye from rubbing of on my feet? My first attempt was over 6 years ago, has the dye been improved at all to not rub off? Thanks for your help,
Erica
Erica,
I really don't know the answer to your question. Perhaps you could search on askjeeves.com (where people post all kinds of info from personal experience) or maybe look for a yahoo group on a related subject. You could also call a full service shoe repair shop & see what they say. best,
Jennifer

Hi, I have two large windows, wanting to save money, I thought I might try to dye them. They are a country blue and I need a taupe. Is this a possibility? Would appreciate you help. Material is from J. C. Penneys and dry cleaning is on the label. I think it is rayon. Thanks, Marilyn
Marilyn,
please read my article on Fabric Dyeing 101 (there is a link at the top of my column). This will give you a basic orientation. In the best of circumstances,I really doubt that you are going to be able to move country blue to taupe, which is (in classic color terms) a combination of brown & purple. Probably time to go shopping. Jennifer

I recently read that a lady had written in to you about rit dying her carpet, I have seen carpet in the past that been dyed with rit dye but did not know how it was done. Do you have instructions that you could e-mail me on how to dye carpeting. Thanks ReNae
Renae,
I don't know much about this, but I have written to the person asking for details. Stay tuned! Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,
I came across your site online after a mishap with my light coloured clothes and a stray black garment!! Most of my whites were old but there was one lovely t-shirt that was a light rose pink and is now a bit purplish looking! Is there anything i can do to lessen or fade the effects of the black dye that has been transferred and get closer to the original colour?
I was also considering bleaching the whole garment altogether and then re-dyeing it but it has some writing on the front, will this be lost too if i discolour the whole thing? Im not sure how the writing has been printed, but it is not painted on, rather it is part of the t-shirt itself if that makes sense.
Please help if you can!
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Jayshree
Dear Jayshree,
Go to Hancock Fabrics or Hobby Lobby & look in the fabric dye section. There are some products there that remove laundry color mishaps. I don't have direct experience with these products, so I can't directly recommend them. If you determine that you have nothing to lose, then you could try. Read all instructions carefully.
best,
Jennifer

Could you tell me what exactly does space-dyed mean? Thank you, Theresa
Dear Theresa,
I don't have any idea what this is. Could you please give a bit more info, like where you saw this, the context, etc? thanks,
Jennifer

Hi. I happened on your webpage in an effort to figure out if a satin dress can be redyed? I was suppose to be in a wedding in May and had already bought the dress at David's Bridal in Victorian Lilac. As I'm sure you know they have an 'all sales final' policy and therefore I cannot return the dress. Rather than having wasted the $160 I thought if I could redye the dress that I would then wear it to a few weddings this year. I was thinking if it is possible to dye it again I would look think either a chocolate or black would be fine. I have not been able to find out if this is possible, can you help? The dress is described as 'satin strapless side ruched ball gown with rhinestone brooch.' Please help! Yvonne
Dear Yvonne,
Probably not. Generally these kinds of dresses are polyester, which cannot be dyed. Sorry. Please read my article on Fabric Dyeing 101 for more info.
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer I have a winter jacket that is made of 100%polyester lining, 63% down cluster, 7% down fiber,45% acrylic, 40% modacrylic and 15% polyester. My question is can this fabric be dyes and if so what kind of dye should be used. thank you Doris
Doris,
Sorry, this can't be dyed.
Jennifer

Hello, I would like to dye my suede curtains. They have a cotton fabric lining, I am just wondering if Rit dye is what I should use or if there are other over the counter products that would work better? I have dyed fabrics before but never suede. Thank you. Janice
Janice,
please read my article on Fabric Dyeing 101. There is a link to the article at the top of my column. Suede fabric is generally polyester, which cannot be dyed. best,
Jennifer

hi my name is sammmy and i baught an all whit hudge puffy prom dress its made out of 100% pollyester and has little beeds on it i really wnat to die it like a blue color is that possible? i don't want it to look like a wedding dres!!! ANy ideas?
Hi Sammy,
I am sorry, you are stuck with the current color. Polyester cannot be dyed. Please read my article on Fabric Dyeing 101 for more info.
Jennifer
My dogs broke into the garbage and got brown hair dye on the beige microfiber couch. I've been unable to take the stains out (any ideas?). I was thinking there might be a way to dye the entire couch as an alternative to replacing it. Is there a way to do it? Thanks for your help!
Dear Jenny,
I think you may be stuck with getting this couch reupholstered. The only other idea I have is to contact the manufacturer & see what they say. I am not too familiar with the interaction of microfiber (polyester) & hair dye. I do not recommend "dyeing" upholstered furniture, because dyeing is a water-based process which requires extensive rinsing.
sorry,
Jennifer

Hi, I am wondering if it is possible to whitten a satin wedding gown that has yellowed with age. My daughter would like to wear it for her wedding. It was my mothers and is 60 years old. It is beaufiful except for the fact that it has aged. It is not yellow but it is dingy. Do you have any suggestions. Can this be washed and if so, in what temp. and how do I dry it. Thank you, Kathy
Dear Kathy,
It all depends on the construction, the fiber content, & the condition of the gown. If it can be soaked in Oxyclean & rinsed easily, you could try it. I don't know exactly what will happen. A quick search for vintage fabric restoration turned up a product at this link:
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jspitemType=PRODUCT&itemID=7260&searchid=inceptor You might also want to search for restoration services & see if any fit your needs.
best,
Jennifer

What dying option that is used most for solid fabrics? Would fiber, yarn, piece or garment be the best?\ Jan
Jan,
it really depends on the effect that you are looking for. In most cases, I would guess that you want to dye the fabric before it is constructed into garments. Besides, unless you are weaving at home, or ordering thousands of yards of fabric to be woven, you probably would not be dyeing the yarn. If this doesn't answer your question, please write back letting me know your scenario in detail & I will try my best!!
Jennifer

I want to dye a tan polyester teddy bear dark brown. Is this possible? If so, what type of dye should I use and how do I do this? Marcia
Dear Marsha,
Sorry, this is not possible, unless you want to research & experiment with airbrush paint. It will be far easier to go shopping.
Jennifer

Hi, I have a baby pink satin dress that I want to die, can I even do that? If so, what type of die should I use. I am in a rush and need it done in a week. Please help!!??
Dear Johnie,
The quick answer is, probably you can't dye the dress. Start by reading my article on Fabric Dyeing 101. There is a link to this article at the top of my column at fabrics.net. This will give you the basic info that you need to know about dyeing!
Jennifer

i have a leather skirt which i am trying to dye black, it is pink. I don't have a problem w/ the leather I bought some color preparer and color spray, Meltonian brand, but the lining needs to be done too. Can I dye it in the washer using regular rit dye? Or will the washing machine wreck the leather?
Dear Leann,
The lining is probably polyester or acetate, which cannot be dyed. Please read my article on Fabric Dyeing 101 for background information. If you like the results of the leather dyeing, I would cut out the lining & leave it at that, or else have a new, black lining installed.
best,
Jennifer

I purchased a denim jacket for my teenage daughter. She really likes it (fit and style) except for the fact that it is a dark colored denim. Is there a safe and easy way to lighten the color? I would appreciate your input. Thanks!
Jane
Dear Jane,
This could be done, but it's all an experiment. If I were you I'd start with Rit Color Remover. Follow directions carefully & check the progress every few minutes. Don't be attached to an exact outcome! Have fun!
Jennifer

Hi I just had my cotton woven curtains dry cleaned. It cost a whopping $180. Now I would like to dye them a dark chocolate brown. Due to the weight(~30lb each peice), I'm afraid dying them will tear once hung. How can I be sure that the fabric will be durable enough after dying?
Suzanne,
Consult with Sherry at www.fabricdyeing.com. She can assist you with this kind of job. She will also know the liabilities (if any) & post-dyeing qualities of your fabric.
best,
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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