Fabric Dyeing Questions

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December/January Questions

I have several pair of expensive jeans that have faded, I want to restore the color rather than throwing them out. The jeans have not been bleached, they have been washed alot. I want to give the jeans that dirty vintage look. is thid possible to do? if so how do I do this?
Dear MA,
What you propose is possible & actually rather easy. Since you want to overdye while maintaining the distressed look, I would suggest using the industrial dyes that are available at www.dharmatrading.com. These are the cheapest & easiest dyes to use that I know of. The range of colors is not great, but you can experiment with what is available. I used the black industrial dye to redye a large batch of black jeans, tshirts, even cotton/poly, with good results. Very simple to use - they come in a dissolving plastic packet that you throw into the washer with hot water. Agitate 15-20 minutes. Run the load one more time with detergent afterward to rinse out extra dye. I think it would be worth experimenting with to see if a black or brown industrial dye would give you the distressed look you are after.

Your alternative would be to use the reactive dyes, which are also available from dharma. They require ordinary table salt & soda ash, a common chemical you can get at pool supply places. Reactive dyes come in a zillion colors & are much more vivid (if used in concentration).

Have fun & Happy New Year!!
Jennifer

Dear Jennirer,
I have a off white sofa chair and ottaman that I want to try to color the fabric brown. My sisters friend said she painted coffee on her sofa. I am curious to find out if this will work, will it stain clothes or can something be sprayed on fabric to make it so it won't get on clothes?
Dear Marci,
In general, my advice is "don't try it" for dyeing upholstered pieces. Talk with your friend further about the coffee option & the results. Since coffee is not dye, it would come off if anything damp or wet got next to it. In addition, it would be very difficult to get the dark brown color that you want using any method.
See my words on dyeing upholstery in my column of July 20 for more info.
Sorry,
Jennifer

Hello - I hope you can help me. I'm in a real fix here. My customer purchased an embroidered bridal veil from me which she wanted dyed ivory. I goofed and used too much yellow. It's the embroidery threads that are too yellow. The tulle is OK. Is there a product I can use that will either remove or at least lighten the yellow? Thanks for any help.
Ann
Dear Ann,
Dharma Trading Company sells a product that will discharge the dye. I have not used it & don't know how it will come out on the embroidery. In my experience, usually the embroidery is rayon & the tulle nylon, of course. These two fibers take the dye differently. You can call the good folks at Dharma to ask them some questions about your overly-yellow piece.
I looked at your website, you have some lovely things!!
Jennifer

I want to dye a beautiful white (with Silver) brocade dress a silver grey color. Can it be done?
Dear Connie,
Dyeing brocade is one of my favorite things. It is usually rayon or silk/rayon & takes the dye beautifully & interestingly. Your dress can be dyed if it is not too structured or embellished & can withstand the agitation of the water-based dyeing process.

However, in my experience, getting the silver that you want is the more difficult part. I would suggest that you get a pearl gray & also some charcoal in the reactive dyes (at www.dharmatrading.com). After reading about how to work with the reactive dyes, start with a test swatch. Try an inconspicuous place like a hem or facing if you don't have extra fabric. Mix up a bit of dye in warm water & dip in your test area to see what happens. If you like the effect, you can continue with either bucket or machine dyeing. Start with the pearl gray & add charcoal a little at a time.

Please remember that dyeing is an art & always, even in my case, an experiment. If you don't want to take this on yourself, contact Sherry at www.fabricdyeing.com. She will be able to advise you further.
good luck,
Jennifer

I have a pair of beige sheer curtains I am interested in dyeing to a terra cotta color and was wondering if that material would even hold a dye, can you please provide some suggestions on how to achieve this color? Thank you!!
Tami
Dear Tami,
It all depends on the fiber content of the sheers. Most sheers are polyester or nylon.
1. If they are polyester, you cannot dye them.
2. If they are nylon, you could dye them using the acid dyes for that purpose at dharmatrading.com.
3. If they are cotton or another natural fiber, you can dye them with the reactive dyes at dharma.

I would suggest not departing too far from the original color because the thread will not take the dye & will make a strong contrast with a darker color.
Go to www.dharmatrading.com, look over their instruction sheets, & send for a copy of their catalog. They sell everything that you need except the table salt.
good luck,
Jennifer

I have a dress I recently purchased that I'm interested in having someone dye professionally. The dress currently is the color Slate(a color I would describe as greyish purple) and I'm wanting to have it dyed black.
It is 67% rayon, 28%poly, and 5% spandex. Is this even possible? It is an expensive dress, so I'm wanting someone who is experienced. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Alexa
Dear Alexa,
Here are two resources for you:
www.sampledyeing.org
www.fabricdyeing.com
Depending on the construction of the dress & how much trim & structure it has, it can be dyed. The thread will remain the current color, which may or may not matter if you are going to black. talk to the experts!!
Jennifer

I HAVE A COMFORTER AND CURTIANS THAT HAVE FADED, AND WOULD LIKE TO DYE THEM A LAVENDER OR WISTERIA. IT HAS 70% POLYESTER AND 30% COTTON THE WAS A LAVENDER. I'D APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
GIZMO Dear Gizmo,
If you want to try it, & the comforter will easily fit in your washer, you could experiment with redyeing or overdyeing these items. Get a catalog from www.dharmatrading.com, read the instructions carefully on the reactive dyes. I have to caution you - polyester will not take the dye, so you will be dyeing only the cotton content of your pieces.

I really would suggest that you go to one of the big box housewares stores & get new bedroom furnishings. It's much easier to refurbish than to mess around with dyeing something that might not work. Probably time to update the look, too.
Jennifer

Hello,
I would like to know if it is possible to dye a vintage (100% white cotton) chenille bedspread? If so, can u recommend a good quality dye? Also, will it be permanent? Are there any colors of dye I should avoid? I would like to dye it a pale shade of robin’s egg blue. Any tips you can offer will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for reading and answering my question. Have a great weekend!
KIM
Dear Kim,
You can indeed dye this piece & the color you propose is pretty easy to obtain. You will need to use the reactive dyes available from www.dharmatrading.com. Get a copy of their paper catalog & read all the instructions carefully. The only caveat is the size of the bedspread. It will work best if it fits easily, with a little room to spare, in your washer.

If you want someone else to do it, contact Sherry Smilo at www.fabricdyeing.com. She offers a great, reasonably-priced service with fabulous colors.

I did indeed have a great weekend! Thank you for your best wishes!
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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