Fabric Dyeing Questions

printer friendly version

May Questions

I have heard that you can use Rit Dye to dye your carpets....I needed to somehow find out what the dye/water ratio is...Also if you know how much one box of dye will cover..If you have any suggestions please let me know, Thanks
Dear Robert,
I am sorry, I can't really help you here. I have never heard of anyone dyeing carpet with Rit & I sincerely doubt if it can be done, since carpet is synethetic (nylon & acrylic, generally) and Rit is for natural fibers. Check out this resource: www.carpetdyeing.com.
They do it professionally and may advise you individually.
Jennifer

Hello my name is Angela, I was wondering if it possiable to dye a couch and love seat. If so how would I do it and where would I get the dye from. Thank you Angela.
Dear Angela,
Sorry, you can't dye upholstered furniture. Please see my column from July 2003 for more words on this subject.
Jennifer

Ms. Miller,
I recently came across a cashmere/wool pea coat in a clothing store that was labelled as being navy. When I looked at it though, it looked VERY deep navy, almost black. However, I'm worried about the colour fading over time and becoming more navy than black.
My question is whether or not a coat like that could be dyed black. How much would a dye job like this cost, an would it have any side-effects on the fabric?
Thank you,
H. Mai
Dear Henry,
Here is my opinion on this matter. There are a million coats in the world & many are quite inexpensive. I really wouldn't worry about some eventual, many-years-from-now outcome on a wool/cashmere coat. By the time it fades, you will be onto something else. If you are really concerned about fading happening soon, keep the coat wrapped in a cotton sheet in your closet during the summer. This kind of thing is remarkably colorfast overall, unless it is stored in a brightly sunlit space, like a closet with a skylight or a store window. Take a look around the Goodwill or a resale shop near to you to see how older coats fare!

Panny & Company in London might redye it if you are still stuck on that idea. Search for them on Google, sorry I don't have their site address right here.
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,
I am looking for a creative way to "imprint" , for lack of a better word, silk satin fabric. I think I actually want to remove color, but not all color from the fabric. I want to create a design on the fabric. Is this possible to your knowledge?

Or is there a way to use color to create the design?

Thank you so much for your time and advice!

Melissa
Dear Melissa,
There are many techniques for special effects on fabric. Look around your community for a class on fiber arts where they will teach a few. Alternatively, you can obtain some books from www.dharmatrading.com & study the techniques. You will be experimenting for a while until you get the effects that you like, so buy some extra fabric. Everything that you need is available from Dharma. Have fun!!
Jennifer

Hi Dizzy Lettuce
Is it possible to do this to a white Acrylic chatham blanket dye it yellow?
Best Regard
Mike
Dear Mike,
As Judith notes, it is challenging to dye acrylic & probably not worth the trouble. Here's what Prochemical says about it:
"PROsperse Disperse Dyes produce only light colors on Acrylic fabrics. Acrylic dyes at a boil, but exhaustion is slow and there is not good build up for darker shades. Expect only pale to medium shades. All dyeing should be done in a stainless steel or enamelware container only; never use an aluminum pot. Use Pyrex or stainless steel measuring utensils and a large wooden dowel for stirring in the boiling dye bath. Always do test samples before working on a large project."

Here is the link for more information at Prochemical:
http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Prosperse_ImmersionAcrylic.htm

Surely it would be much easier to find a new chatham blanket on ebay or in a discount store.
Jennifer

I have a jacket and capri pants in hot pink. The fabric consists of 52% linen, 45% cotton and 3% spandex. Unfortunately, the pants were splattered with bleach spots near the waist band. how can i try to match the color as closely as I can, bearing in mind it doesn't have to be exact as my shirt covers most of the spot. I would appreciate any help you can give me as this is one of my favorites.
Thank you.
Edith
Dear Edith,
The only hope is to consult with Sherry Smilo at www.fabricdyeing.com. She may be able to overdye the entire ensemble for you. You can't do it yourself, unfortunately.
Good luck,
Jennifer

Dear Jennifer, Is it possible to dye cotton interlock successfully? I like to make my own interlock shirts, but have trouble finding colors I like. I can find white and ivory. Could this be dyed and would the color hold? I appreciate any information you could give me. Thanks
Dear Jenny,
Yes, you can dye 100% cotton interlock. Get a catalog from www.dharmatrading.com & read about dyeing cotton. They also sell cotton interlock there, at a very reasonable price, & it is "prepared for dyeing" - without coatings or any other treatment that would interfere with the dye. In my experience vat dyeing in the washer produces a much more even application of dye than bucket dyeing, but you could try both & see what you like. Another good resource is www.prochemical.com. Check out both these sites. Have fun & write back if you have questions!!
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,
I just purchased some unbleached hemp muslin that that is ready for dyeing. I want to use something natural that will not run or fade over night. I have seen clothing dyed with clay but can not find any information. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Melissa : )
Dear Melissa,
Looking over my previous columns, you will see that I send people to www.dharmatrading.com for dyeing supplies of all kinds. They also have the natural dyes. Some are less toxic, some are not. I personally swear by the reactive dyes for their vividness, depth, colorfastness, ease, & low toxicity. I have not used any of the natural dyes.

You may also find some useful information at www.prochemical.com. They have a natural indigo dyeing kit which I sent for. I haven't used it yet, because the instructions are so long & complicated, especially compared to the ease of use of the reactive dyes.

If you want to know more about the natural dyes, I suggest that you look at the books they carry at Dharma, or check out sources in the library.
have fun,
Jennifer

Can a prom gown made of silk lining and chiffon overlay (beaded) by dyed? Thanks,
B. C.
Dear Betsy,
In theory, this can be dyed. Here is what you need to take into consideration:
1. The dress must be able to withstand warm water processing, either in a bucket or in the washer.
2. Bucket dyeing is somewhat uneven & might produce streaking, in my experience.
3. Silk will shrink & could twist out of shape. Silk chiffon shrinks, in my processing, about 15-20%.
4. The thread will not take the dye, and any trim on the dress is unpredictable. For example, if it is trimmed with rayon lace, binding, or anything else, this will become a slightly different color from the silk.
5. If the dress has been worn & has any spots, seen or unseen, the dye may take unevenly at those places.

Having said that, I have to tell you that I recently dyed a vintage beaded silk chiffon blouse & it came out fantastic!! I did it in the washer in a net bag. This protected the beads and prevented undue stress on the fabric. You can try your dress knowing that there are no guarantees.

Another alternative is to consult with Sherry Smilo at www.fabricdyeing.com. See what she says. She will dye individual garments at a reasonable cost.

If you want to try it yourself, get a catalog from www.dharmatrading.com & read all instructions carefully. Use the reactive dyes (the silk dyes must be steam set, way too much trouble).

happy Prom,
Jennifer

Jennifer: My wedding sari was white and is embroidered with sequins. It is now yellow (I've been married 25 years!). I washed it in cold water with a mild detergent but of course that did not help. Can I dye it white agian? How do I go about doing this? Please help!
Thanks a million.
Mariam
Dear Miriam,
Your wedding sari sounds lovely. Unfortunately dyeing is for putting in color, not removing it. Yellowing of silk is an oxidation process which is difficult to reverse - sort of like rusting.

I checked with the Big Boss of Fabrics.net, Judith, about using various bleaching agents & here's what she replied:
"Biz might help but it requires very hot water for the enzymes to work which may not be good for the silk. I would suggest that she call a local museum to see if their experts would have other suggestions. Oxyclean is not recommended for fine woolens or silks."
I would also add that I definitely would NOT use chlorine bleach, as this will break down the delicate silk fibers. Unfortunately silk is not a very long-lasting fabric. After a while it yellows, discolors, and shreds or shatters.
Look for someone at your local museum who is into fiber preservation & restoration.
good luck,
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.

About Dizzylettuce

Dizzylettuce is a line of unique, creative, beautiful, and luxurious silk accessories - triangles, rectangles, and circles - that can be worn as shawl, wrap, waist and hip wrap, sash, exciting ensemble layer, and suit or coat accessory.

Take a look at the latest Dizzylettuce styles & colors at www.dizzylettuce.com.

You can contact me at 512 837 4063 or here at dizzylettuce@fabrics.net.

If you love beautiful colors, luxurious textures, rich and interesting trim accents, the creation of a unique fashion look, and beautiful clothes - you will love Dizzylettuce!

If you are looking for fabrics, the fastest route is to fill out a request form at http://www.fabrics.net/swatch/

The "dizzylettuce" Column is an opinion Column and may or may not reflect the views of Fabrics.net.