Dye question

[Drudonn]

I have a black cloak made of fleece. I need a red cloak for a new garb look (Roman soldier) and I'd rather reuse what I've got than go out & spend more money if I don't have to.

Here's my question: Is there a way I can turn this black cloak red? I don't think red dye would affect a black cloak, but could I bleach the fleece & then dye it red? Is that possible, or would it mess up the fabric (or have any effect at all)?

[bmgjarvis]

Odds are it's a polyester fleece and the common dyes found in stores won't touch it. That's assuming it will bleach out, which I would doubt. It would be much safer to make a new cloak out of red fleece.

[DonaCatalina]

Even if it were 100% wool fleece, the amount of dye remover required to remove the black would basically destroy the fabric. Sorry, but I think buying red fabric is in your future.

[Drudonn]

Hmmm...well, I guess it's a good thing I get paid again soon... 

thanks for the help

[gem]

It looks like from this site that you can make the cloak from about 3 yards of 60" wide fabric. If you use something like linen, you can get it for under $25. Wool will cost you more, and it will be tougher to find the right weight/width in cotton. But if you stay with fleece, it won't look as nice, but fleece is constantly on sale at JoAnn and Hancock. Right now, it's $3.59/yard at JA. Eleven bucks. Not bad. You'd probably spend nearly that much on good dye.

[Adriana Rose]

Yup its better to start from scratch for that.

Once something is black its black, it you tried to dye over it you would get a reddish black if not a darker shade of black. The bleach would trash a other wise good cloak too.

[operafantomet]

I have a black cloak made of fleece. I need a red cloak for a new garb look (Roman soldier) and I'd rather reuse what I've got than go out & spend more money if I don't have to.

Here's my question: Is there a way I can turn this black cloak red? I don't think red dye would affect a black cloak, but could I bleach the fleece & then dye it red? Is that possible, or would it mess up the fabric (or have any effect at all)?

Could you maybe line it, so one side would be red, and the other black? Maybe with a similar fleece? This way you could have two cloaks in one...

I agree with others, bleaching and dyeing would be so much more work than it's worth, especially when it might or might not work. Making a new one would be both cheaper and less work.

[Drudonn]

Yup its better to start from scratch for that.

Once something is black its black, it you tried to dye over it you would get a reddish black if not a darker shade of black. The bleach would trash a other wise good cloak too.

Well, I never claimed it was a *good* cloak  It would still take some work to make it a "good" cloak...right now, it's OK, but it's my "cloak of last resort;" in case a friend needs some garb at the last minute, my partner and I have all sorts of spare pieces that can be combined into a look.

Thanks for the fabric suggestions. I'm probably going to walk around JoAnn's and feel things until I find something I like. My partner & his roommate are theatre costumers, so they can tell me which ones will work really well (having a personal costuming team is really convenient, I find  )