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Faire Garb => Sewing => Topic started by: Alessandra on October 10, 2010, 07:51:47 PM

Title: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: Alessandra on October 10, 2010, 07:51:47 PM
Is it possible to dye a plaid home decorator fabric a solid color ?   If so .. what kind of dye should I use ?
Title: Re: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: Cilean on October 10, 2010, 08:01:37 PM


Well you can try Dharma Trading Company - www.dharmatrading.com
and look for the Porcion dyes and the thing is to make sure you dye something darker than the darkest plaid but I don't know if this will actually work. I have tried to dye plaid and not matter what it came through.

Cilean




Title: Re: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: Alessandra on October 10, 2010, 08:11:13 PM
thanks, Cilean.  I don't mind if the plaid comes through a bit - I made hubby a monk costume a few years ago out of the plaid - last minute type thing and he did stand out a faire ..  buuuut, I'd like it to be more 'normal'.  lol
Title: Re: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: Adriana Rose on October 10, 2010, 08:41:15 PM
Id say use the dye from Dharma its a little stronger than the stuff you get in stores
Title: Re: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: gem on October 10, 2010, 09:00:50 PM
It's going to depend on what it's made of. If it's a synthetic, like nylon, it probably won't take the dye at all. And I believe that different types of natural fibers (cellulose fibers like cotton vs protein [?] fibers like silk or wool) require different types of dyes.
Title: Re: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: Lady Kathleen of Olmsted on October 11, 2010, 11:18:15 AM


I have a cotton brocade fabric I bought 6 years ago in a diamond design that will make a perfect overskirt for my upcoming, Queen of Hearts ensemble. The fabric is a cream color and I will need to die it a Tan. I did a scrap using day old coffee and some distilled vinegar. Seemed to work okay.

But a better form of dying that would be permanent would be better.
Title: Re: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: DonaCatalina on October 12, 2010, 10:11:57 AM
I use both Dharma trading dyes and rit dyes. I use the same instruction from Dharma's website for both types. Be aware though, that the higher the rayon/poly content, the less efftive the Rit Dye will be.
Fabrics with a higher cotton content take dyer much better.
Patterned fabric will come up patterned but in different shades of your dye.
My two-toned chocolate Spanish Imperial gown started out as white fabric, the rayon and the cotton dyed different shades.
Title: Re: Dyeing home decorator fabric question
Post by: Alessandra on October 13, 2010, 09:00:11 PM
I have ordered some Dharma dye.  The fabric is a wool .. maybe a mix.  Honestly, I'm just not sure.  I got it from Hobby Lobby a few years ago.  I tried the RitDye without much success.  So, Dharma gets round 2! 

Thanks so much for all the helpful information!