How hard is it to dye clothing?

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amother

Ruby ↓

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 9:03 am

There is an item I have been looking for but it doesn't seem to exist in the color I want. It is made mostly of wool. I'm thinking of buying a beige one (that's the lightest I can find it available) and dyeing it. The thing is, I'm quite hopeless at anything crafty and DIY and I'm afraid I'd botch it. Or that it will be super messy. I wouldn't even know how to get the shade right (I don't want it coming out too dark). How realistically difficult is it to dye clothing? Any tips?

amother

Honeydew

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 9:08 am

I dyed my sweaters bluer not to a different color in the washer machine (top loader). I used rit but after a while it came out. My friend tried what you plan on doing and her sweater came out a disgusting green. There is a better company of dye but I have to find out.

amother

↑ Ruby ↓

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 9:13 am

I want to dye it blue, but I can only find it in navy, not a lighter blue that I can make darker (navy is already way darker than I want).

ra_mom

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 9:15 am

It's hard!
And doesn't always work the way you envision it will come out.
Also, it depends on the material. Synthetic fabric will often not take to the dye. Cotton is easier but you need to work hard to make sure the color comes through evenly. And then you always need to wash that garment separately from then on otherwise it will bleed onto the other clothes.

About your specific situation, wool shrinks in hot water so the dyeing process will ruin the garment before the color even adheres. Sad

Iymnok ↓

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 9:23 am

The best colored wool is dyed before it's spun into yarn. The next level is when the yarn is dyed. The lowest is when the woven fabric is dyed.
I'm sure it could work somehow, I just wouldn't know.

amother

↑ Ruby ↓

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 9:31 am

The item in question is a coat, so it wouldn't get washed very often at all. Does that change things?

zaq ↓

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 10:54 am

Don't even think about it. No o e I know has ever been able to make the color come out even, wool shrinks, and a garment as complex as a wool coat would be utterly ruined by machine washing (even without dye) for many reasons. Resign yourself to either wearing a beige coat or getting a different coat in the color you want.

myself

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 11:21 am

I've successfully dyed corduroy pants on several occasions, but wouldn't risk it with wool.

FranticFrummie ↓

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 12:51 pm

It is possible, but you have to have the right type of dye, and follow the tutorials precisely.

Go to Dharma Trading, and search "wool dye". It's more complicated than you'd think, but it's a fascinating process.

Synthetics are nearly impossible. I've had great luck with cotton, silk, rayon, and bamboo textiles. I've done some absolutely stunning cashmere sweaters (thank you, Goodwill!)

Wool is natural, but it's treated to resist shrinking, and that can repel dye or make it take unevenly. That's why you have to pre-treat it, use a cold water dye, etc.

Once you get the hang of it, it's a really addicting hobby!

greenfire ↓

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 1:34 pm

it's quite possible just be prepared to dye quite a few things the same colour ... seems to be an urge that people who dye have - quick find another item - lol

I myself have only tie-dyed things ~ was quite the FUN & with nice results Colors

↑ FranticFrummie

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 1:39 pm

greenfire wrote:

it's quite possible just be prepared to dye quite a few things the same colour ... seems to be an urge that people who dye have - quick find another item - lol

TRUTH!

Wait, there's a tablespoon of dye left over, find a sock! LOL

↑ greenfire

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 2:18 pm

FranticFrummie wrote:

TRUTH!

Wait, there's a tablespoon of dye left over, find a sock! LOL

yes I've watched my sister & my dd#2 do the exact same thing ... all my girlies had the same colour underwear, socks & t-shirts & that was an aside to whatever it was she was dyeing in the first place [I think even I threw in a pair of socks]

↑ Iymnok

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 3:25 pm

I loved my swirly purple tights! They were added last and not submerged enough.

amother

↑ Ruby

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 3:32 pm

Should I try to get the coat in a different material? What would work better? I'm getting the coat for a specific reason and it needs to be a certain style and at least an approximation of a particular color. Doesn't have to be wool, though that seems easiest to find.

↑ zaq

Sun, Apr 30 2017, 4:12 pm

Seriously, unless the coat is relatively unstructured iow no lining, interlining, shoulder pads and other tailoring features- more like a big sweater than a coat-- OR if you need this for something like a costume for Purim or a play in which up-close looks and condition don't matter all that much, you should forget about it. You'd probably be better off having it made from scratch or having a tailor retrofit the requisite detailing onto something similar that is the right color.

If you're looking at school or work uniforms and you must have the right color, it would be hard if not impossible to match exactly. And in the meantime you risk ruining the coat if it's not machine washable. Wool coats tend to require dry cleaning because the various parts shrink unequally. A 100% wool coat still has parts that are not wool, such as shoulder pads, interfacings, linings and interlinings and maybe a belt with a plastic stiffener. The coat may also have parts that are fused rather than sewn together.. Even dry cleaning sometimes causes these parts to separate, immersing in water kal vachomer. You may want to ask a professional cleaner about dyeing such a garment. I would really urge you not to try diy unless you're willing to accept the loss if it gets ruined.

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