Fabric Dyeing Questions

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December Questions

Hi there! I just came upon your site... I have a white eyelet bedskirt that has been tea-stained to bring it to an ecru color. I'm now trying to dye it black. I used Singer Permanent Fabric Dye in Deep Black. I agitated it in the washing machine with the least amount of water possible and at the hottest temperature. I added 1 cup of salt per the directions. It turned out gray. I cannot read the fabric content as the label is completely black, but I'm thinking it is 50% cotton / 50% polyester. Is there anything I can do to get it to a true deep black? Thanks for your time! Mandy
Mandy,
sorry, no, you can't get half-polyester fabric to deep black. Black is a really hard color to get in the best of circumstances. You may have to start over - or else you could use Dharma's color remover & take out the gray, then dye it (dye will take at about half strength) another color using the reactive dyes. Check out instructions & supplies at www.dharmatrading.com.
best,
Jennifer

I have a lavender satin bridesmaids dress that I want to dye black is it possible? I purchased it from David's Bridal Rhonda
Rhonda,
Please read my article on Fabric Dyeing 101 for more information. In all probability, you won't be able to dye the dress. Go shopping!
best,
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer -
I have a gorgeous suede coat that I want to dye black. Currently the suede is a neutral tan color. It has white acrylic fur inside and all around the collar.
My first inital thought was - no problem! I will just get some Rit Dye from the store, brush it on the suede, let it dry and off I go! A black coat with white fur!! But now I am worried.
Here are my questions.
1) Will Rit dye be acceptable for suede?
2) You can't wash suede, and they say you are supposed to wash out the dye. What am I supposed to do about that?
3) If I can't wash it out, will it stand up on it's own after it dries (so to speak)? And will it stink of dye? If the answers are yes, will all that fade over time?
4) Should I just say forget it and take it to a professional? Where are they in the Los Angeles Valley area?

Thank you so much for your help - hope to hear from you very soon!!
~Ms. Davee Hallinan
Hi Davee,
You can't do this yourself. Consult with Coronet Leather in Denver: www.coronetleather.com. They have customers from all over the world.
Happy Holidays!
Jennifer
P.S. if you read the instructions on Rit Dye, it notes that it is for natural fiber textiles only, like cotton, linen, rayon, etc.

Hi Jennifer, I hope you can help with this. I have brown cotton curtains that I would like to dye black or a burgandy color. Is this possible at all? Thanks, Michele
Dear Michele,
This is possible, & I think you can do it yourself. First, ready my article on Fabric Dyeing 101. Next, get a copy of the catalog from www.dharmatrading.com. Study carefully & amass all the supplies you need. If you want to try for black, you will need reactive dye Black 250 plus soda ash & salt. If you want to try burgundy, you could check out the industrial dyes, which are very, very simple to use but come in limited colors. Keep in mind dyeing is always (even in my case, believe me) an experiment. Also remember, you will be combining colors, so you will need to determine what will make burgundy out of the brown that you have there. If, after all that, you decide you don't want to try it yourself, you can contact Sherry at www.fabricdyeing.com & see what she says. have fun!
Jennifer

I have an 11 yr. old daughter and I bought her a tan suade skirt but she wants it black. Can I dye it? If so, what kind of dye can or should I use? Thank you Robbie
Here are your two resources:
www.leathermagic.com
www.coronetleather.com
Research carefully before beginning & keep in mind that all dyeing is an experiment!
best,
Jennifer

You may not deal with this subject area at all, but I'm wondering if you know of anyone who has the ability of painting on fabric? Specifically, what I'm doing as a surprise for my daughter's wedding, is a memory quilt with many different patches contributed by different people. For my own patch, I was thinking of seeing if anyone had the ability to take a photograph and paint a likeness of the phot onto fabric. Thank yous for your help and my apologies if this is very far afield from your design work.
Shirley
Shirley,
You have several options here, one of which is to transfer a photo onto silk or muslin & then colorize (or leave as-is, whatever pleases you). Dharma Trading Co (www.dharmatrading.com) has muslin & silk fabric that is set up to go in an ink jet printer. I have used it. For getting someone else to do it - Dharma also lists people who will dye fabrics - a resource list - I don't remember if there are any painters there but you could check. Another option is to do a google search for silk painters or painting & see what you come up with. Similarly, there is sure to be a yahoo group for silk painting or fabric painting because there is a yahoo group for everything.

I would suggest that you get a paper catalog from Dharma & study it carefully. They are the experts for color on fabric. This will give you a whole lot more information so that you can intelligently discuss with any artist you are interviewing.

I am sure your quilt will be wonderful & quite special! Many blessings for the wedding.
Jennifer

Hello
I will be wearing my mother's 1968 wedding dress for my wedding. Is it possible (and if so, a good idea) to have a professional use a mild bleach on it to brighten it up a bit? If so, how can I go about finding such a professional in the Boston area, and if not, is there anything I can do to brighten it up a bit? Thanks, Erin
Dear Erin,
There is nothing that you can do that will produce a guaranteed outcome. If you want to experiment, you could soak it in a solution of oxyclean & then send it to the cleaners for a professional press job. Keep in mind that you may not be pleased with the outcome - some possibilities are:
1. it remains the same color
2. it shrinks from a water-based process, even if it is cool or slightly warm water
3. it lightens unevenly
4. it can't be pressed back into pristine shape.
If you don't want to risk any of these outcomes, you could accessorize with a brighter or a sparkly white or lighter color in order to lighten up the whole thing. Do not try chlorine bleach! With fabric this old, no matter what its content, you could make a mess.
blessed wedding,
Jennifer

We just completed remodeling our kitchen, and in the process we had our existing chairs refinished to match the cabinet wood. We also had the pads on them recovered by an upholstery person. Unfortunately, the fabric we selected came back much lighter than we expected - almost white. The chairs have two cushions each: back & bottom. Is there any way short of removing the pads again from the wood, that we can darken the material - to perhaps a light brown or golden sage? If so, can you please describe the process. Thanks so much for your help
Dear Gayle,
I can't recommend any method that will be a sure-fire cure. Dyeing, even tea dyeing, is a water-based process that requires agitation & a lot of rinsing. One possible option is Simply Spray, a fiber paint which comes in a limited number of colors. But maybe you can find something you like! www.simplyspray.com. Carefully mask off the rest of the chair. You could also try looking carefully at the textile paints available at www.dharmatrading.com. Look carefully for one that does not require heat setting.
Keep in mind all dyeing is an experiment, & don't be too attached to the outcome.
best,
Jennifer

Hello Jennifer.
Just found your site and read thru the stuff about dyeing fabrics but my answer wasn't there.
I have some old antique satin toppers that I was thinking of reusing. They are presently a dark ivory color. What product would I use to dye them some kind of medium blue? Do you think they would dye well? They are supposed to be dryclean only, but I washed them with no problems. No fabric content listed, but they are quite nubby and the backing looks satiny.
Thanks a lot for your input.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
it really all depends on the fabric content. If they are mostly or all natural fiber, you can dye them. If you are willing to experiment, you could try it. Get a copy of the catalog from www.dharmatrading.com & study the instructions on the reactive dyes. You will need soda ash & ordinary table salt, in addition to the dye. Re-read my article for other details & caveats.
have fun,
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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