Ever dyed something yourself? (washing, buy, natural, clothes)

[CalWorth]

I have to say, the items I dyed were cotton, wool, rayon, no polyester blends.

The down jacket that I dyed was originally bright red. I wanted a more subtle color, so I used black Rit dye & the jacket came out dark burgundy or maroon, which was fine.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Cecilia_Rose

I would like to add that sometimes even if the item will dye the seam threads may be synthetic and will not. So you could end up with a darker item with light pink threads. BTDT

This has happened to me. I dyed light colored 100% cotton jeans a much darker color. The fabric turned out fine, but all the seams stayed light/white. Stuck out like a sore thumb! I ended up with "accents" I never intended. The garment's final color was critical. Luckily, I found a Sharpie permanent marker that matched closely enough but it took forever to dab ink on all those stitches!

[A.Typical.Girl]

Originally Posted by otterhere

Okay; I thought it might react badly with the dye or something (like putting metal in a microwave).

Good to know!

I'd be cautious, too, about using aluminum, unless someone here has done it. Formulas change as newer chemicals become better, so maybe that's not an issue today.

But, just like hair color in the old days, it couldn't be mixed in metal as it had a reaction when metal meets color & turned it odd colors, like green. No hairdresser today uses metal ever (I'm a hairdresser)... color & bleach are always mixed in plastic bowls.

I'd think with dye it could also be possible, which is why whenever I see YTube dying vids, they use plastic containers. I have however used an old enamel pot to dye.

I'd like to know if someone has used aluminum pots to dye?

[Voebe]

I never expected so many replies, and so many of them helpful!

Thank you all so much!

Originally Posted by CalWorth

I used to dye stuff all the time, from towels to a down jacket, which I still wear, in the washing machine, also did tie-dye in the sink. I just followed instructions on the Rit dye package. Everything came out as planned.

For the washing machine, I remember doing a cycle with hot water & bleach to clean the washer tub.

I'm on septic now so I haven't done this in years, don't know if Rit dye is still made. I think I bought it someplace like Target, or a crafts or fabric store.

Thanks for the tip on bleaching. Do you remember how much bleach you used to use?

Originally Posted by SkyLark2019

Protip- RIT liquid dye works best in hot water.

Good to know - especially because lately I've been doing everything in cold water.

Originally Posted by Parnassia

I've dyed a few things over the years. Most recently, producing consistently intense HOT pink tennis balls for my fetching fiend dog (bought regulation white wool covered balls from a tennis club and hand dyed them in a pot on the stove). Hot pink showed up best in roadside bushes and the regulation play balls survived abuse much, much longer than the crap balls from pet shops. Yes, I realize dogs don't see in full color, but I was often the one tasked with finding them after she got distracted and gave up.

Supermarket Rit sorta-worked for the occasional bedsheet costume or single color T shirt. Attempting to mix colors to create a custom shade may not be predictable. Not because the colors themselves won't do what seems logical, but because the chemicals used to produce those two different dye colors are not compatible. You bought a pink shirt. You don't know how the dye used to produce the pink will react to the black dye. Once many dyes are set, the fabric won't react the same way to a future dying attempt. Some dyes mix well, others don't.

The fabric of the garment you're using really influences how different dyes work too. Some dyes are really only suited for cotton (but if you want intense color you have to use really hot water. You run the risk your cotton will shrink), others are better suited for other fibers or blends.

If you really want to do it right, check out these folks. Lots of dyes, supplies, and maybe most important, reliable useful information and techniques. Including how to handle cleaning out your washing machine.

https://www.dharmatrading.com/

This is for cotton pants, and I'd be expecting them to shrink anyway. You're right that I can't know for sure the result, but it's reasonable to assume the result of black dye would be black, gray, or a dark rose. And there won't be future dyeing attempts. This is informal, not for an antique ball gown.

Originally Posted by A.Typical.Girl

Firstly, I'd caution against using your washer. Depending on the drum material (there might be plastic pieces on top of the metal drum), it could permenantly stain... I moved into an apt last year where the previous tenant did just that & they had to replace my washer.

If I wanted to dye something, I'd buy used pots at the Goodwill, or the cheapest "spaghetti pots" I could find at a discount store & cheap wooden spoons & use them for chemicals only going forward. Also, they hold less water than the kitchen sink or bathtub or washer, so the dyed water will be darker & render a result more true to color. You can also make the water hotter... machine water isn't boiling.

I just worry that with a pot, apart from the issues of splashing, the color won't be distributed as evenly.

Originally Posted by rfomd129

I've dyed denim not too long ago. When denim skirts or pants got a little too light for me I would buy either black dye for black jeans or navy or denim blue dye for blue jeans. I've used RIT liquid in my top load washer and never had a problem with it. I would run the machine empty afterwards with a little bleach on the hottest setting to clean the machine and then wipe it down with a rag.

Also, follow the instructions for washing the garment afterwards to get out excess dye so it doesn't come off on your furniture.

Thanks, good tip about post-dye.

[CalWorth]

^^Yes, regarding adding bleach to the washing machine tub to clean it, it wasn't much, maybe half a cup, then filled the laundry tub to its highest setting with hot water. I would let it sit for a little bit after mixing with the hot water. I'm not sure, but I think the directions for cleaning the washing machine after using the dye were included on the dye package. I also used liquid dye, it distributed in the water better & gave better results, IMO.

[Voebe]

Well, as a first step, I followed KayeKaye's suggestion and washed the pants.

Now I'm wondering if trying to dye pink pants brown would have a better result than trying black.

Next week I"ll look for dye.

[steiconi]

Originally Posted by Voebe

Well, as a first step, I followed KayeKaye's suggestion and washed the pants.

Now I'm wondering if trying to dye pink pants brown would have a better result than trying black.

Next week I"ll look for dye.

To make a color brown, dye it the color opposite it on the color wheel. For pink, that would be green. Brown dye will work, of course, but you'll get a pinky brown.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Voebe

Well, as a first step, I followed KayeKaye's suggestion and washed the pants.

Now I'm wondering if trying to dye pink pants brown would have a better result than trying black.

Next week I"ll look for dye.

Lots of dyes available in many, many colors available from Dharma Trading.

[NORTY FLATZ]

Originally Posted by Voebe

Have you ever tried dyeing something yourself?

No, but I discovered a way to remove dye from dyed diesel fuel. (And no, I won't disclose the technique. The IRS might not like this info, out.)

[SkyLark2019]

RIT has liquid bottles (works faster than the powder dye.)

I use 5 gallon buckets to avoid making a mess when dye-ing items.