Dyeing a shirt

[islasmum]

I've seen a really nice shirt online that is white, when I wanted it in black - I'm considering dyeing it black, but have never dyed anything before - are the dyes you put in the washing machine good? The shirt is 100% cotton and quite lacey - would it take a dye easily?

[woofgang]

If its a cheap shirt then give it a go...if it costs a bit then don't bother, its very hard to dye a good black and the faff with the machine to get the stuff out again is only worth doing if you really really want the result

[EcclesCake]

Please don't waste your time and money. You'd have to dye the shirt a dark colour (or black) and then dye it black. To go for a single hit wouldn't work and you'd end up with it being patchy and fading very quickly - which may well happen anyway.

Also unless the stitching is 100% cotton you might find the stitching doesn't take the dye so well.

[Frank97]

Agree with the above, I tried to dye a denim shirt black last year, had to use two packets of Dylon to get it a very dark blue but not black, then had a hell of a job getting the washer clean. I'm quite pleased with the end result though.

[Frank97]

I didn't end up with any patchiness it just wouldn't go black and yes the stitching remained orange.

[rockyracoon]

Agree, black rarely comes out true black, more a very dark blue, and as been said, if the stitching is not man made fabric like polyester then it will not dye. I only use black dye to rejuvenate fading black clothes.

[rockyracoon]

I mean if stitching IS man made it will not dye.

[B00]

I dyed some towels dark purple, and they come out brilliantly.

[islasmum]

Thanks everyone, the shirt is not expensive, so I might try dying it - I was going to do black, but really any dark colour might suit as well. Anyway thanks everyone for your replies.

[rockyracoon]

If you've nothing to loose by dying the shirt then go for it, I'm always dying odds and sods, especially white t shirts and the like when the start going grey. You can buy puches of dylon in the more popuar colours with the salt already mixed in so all you have to do is chuck it all in the machine, I'd go for a lovely vibrant colour. You've given me the bug again, I'll be hunting through my wardrobe now.

[Anngel123]

Made the mistake of using the washing machine to do black dye. 6 months later I still get the occasional flake of black ick on stuff. Even though I washed it empty twice on max heat. Don't use the machine.

[Brinjal]

Dylon dyes are good

[rockyracoon]

Angel, that's very strange, I've always used machine dyes and can honesty say that I've never had any colour left in there afterwards.

[rowanwitch]

I usedto dye stuff all the time but for some reason the results are not as good now... I think they have changed the stuff that fixes the dye... I would be concerned though as even 100 % cotton fabrics are sewn with polyesterthreads and these don't dye so you may end up with a charcoal grey shiirt wih white stitching