Transform a white or very light garment by dyeing it a bright, vibrant color. You can dye your clothing using natural materials of plant or chemical origin, available in stores. Whichever mode you choose, the process is simple. Here's what you need to do.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Prepare the Clothes and Workspace
Step 1. Choose the right fabric
Most dyes work best on natural fabrics, so if you're planning on dyeing a polyester or other synthetic fiber dress, you should find a special mix or choose another garment.
- Choose a white or off-white item to get the purest color possible.
- Natural dyes work best with cotton, wool, silk, and muslin.
- Chemical dyes work best with cotton, linen, silk, wool, and ramie, but also with rayon and synthetic nylon fabrics.
- If you have a dress made of 60% dyeable fiber, such as cotton, then you can usually color it with a chemical dye, even if the remaining fibers cannot be dyed. Note, however, that the color will be much lighter than it would be if the fabric were 100% dyeable.
- Avoid clothes made of polyester, spandex, metallic fibers or with a label that says “dry clean only”.
Step 2. Wash your clothes before dyeing them
The pieces you decide to dye should be cleaned before starting. Start a normal wash cycle with warm water in the washing machine and a mild detergent.
- Make sure all stains have been removed before proceeding.
- You can also use bleach to make your clothes whiter. A pure white garment will generate a more vibrant color than an off-white piece.
- You don't have to let your clothes dry after washing them. They need to be wet for the dyeing process.
Step 3. Cover the workspace
Dyeing clothes can be messy. To make cleaning easier, spread a plastic sheet or several layers of newspaper on the work surface.
You should also keep some sponges and paper towels nearby in case the dye spills as you go
Part 2 of 4: Natural Dye Method
Step 1. Leave the clothes to soak in a fixative
Dye fixatives allow garments to absorb the dye faster. The best type of fixative will depend on the type of dye used.
- If you are making berry tincture, make a salt-based fixative. Combine 125ml of salt with 2L of cold water.
- When you get the tincture from other plants, make a vinegar-based fixative. Mix 1 part of white vinegar with 4 parts of cold water.
- If you are using a chemical dye, apply a fixative based on the type of fabric that will be dyed.
- Leave the clothes in the fixative solution for an hour. Afterwards, rinse them with cold water before dyeing them.
Step 2. Choose the right color
The material you select will determine the color of your tint. Do a little research to understand which plants, berries and spices can be used to produce the color you want.
- Create an orange tint with onion skins, carrot roots, walnut seed shells from the ash nut, and golden lichen.
- Create a brown tint using dandelion roots, oak bark, nut shells and hulls, tea bags, coffee, acorns, and golden-colored sprouts.
- Create the pink tint using strawberries, cherries, red raspberries and giant spruce bark.
- Create the blue-purple tint with dogwood bark, red cabbage, lavender elderberries, purple blackberries, cornflower petals, blueberries, purple grapes, and purple iris.
- Create the reddish-brown tint using elderberries, pomegranates, beets, bamboo and dried hibiscus flowers.
- Create a gray-to-black tint using blackberries, walnut husks, oak galls and walnut husks from the American Ash Walnut.
- Create the red-purple tint with daytime beauties, American blueberries or basil.
- Create the green tint using artichokes, sorrel roots, spinach leaves, tetratheca ericifolia, snapdragons, lilac blossoms, grass or yarrow blossoms.
- Create the yellow tint using bay leaves, alfalfa seeds, marigold buds, hypericum, dandelion flowers, daffodil flower heads, paprika, and turmeric.
Step 3. Collect the right parts to make the dye
Each plant you decide to use must be in a mature state.
- The fruit and berries must be very ripe.
- The nuts must be ripe.
- The buds must be in full bloom and towards the end of their life cycle.
- The seeds, leaves and stems can be harvested as soon as they grow.
Step 4. Cut the raw materials into small pieces
The plant should be cut into fine pieces using a kitchen knife. Transfer the chopped parts to a large pot.
- The pot should measure twice the volume of the clothes you plan to dye.
- Cutting the plants into small pieces exposes the surface more, so their natural color will be extracted more easily.
Step 5. Simmer the dye over low heat
Fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil at a high temperature. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 60 minutes.
It uses twice as much water as the quantity of raw materials
Step 6. Filter the tint
Pour the dye through a colander to remove the solid parts of the plant and separate them from the liquid. Transfer the liquid back to the pot for dyeing.
Step 7. Let the clothes in the dye simmer
Place the wet pieces in the colored water and cook them over low or medium heat until the desired color is achieved.
- Remember that the color will be lighter once the piece has dried.
- At a minimum, you will need to let the clothes soak for 30-60 minutes.
- For an intense shade, let the clothes soak for 8 hours or overnight.
- Occasionally turn clothes in colored water to make sure they dye evenly.
Step 8. Wash the dyed fabric with cold water
For the first wash, wash the dyed clothes with cold water and separate them from the other pieces.
- There will be a loss of color during washing.
- Dry your clothes in the dryer or in the sun.
Part 3 of 4: Chemical Tincture, The Pot Method
Step 1. Simmer a large pot of water
Fill a large pot three-quarters full with water. Let it simmer on the stove on medium heat.
Use an 8 L pot. Otherwise, you may not have enough space to properly and evenly dye your clothes
Step 2. Add a fixative
For chemical dyes, the fixative should be added directly to the colored water. This element should be determined based on the type of fabric that makes up your clothes.
- For natural fibers, such as cotton and silk, add 250ml of salt to the water as it begins to boil.
- For synthetic fibers, such as nylon, add 250ml of white vinegar to the water.
Step 3. Add the dye solution to the water
You can use a granulated or liquid one. Follow the instructions provided on the package to determine the correct amount to use.
- If you are using a powdered dye box, you will usually need to pour the entire package into the simmering water.
- If you are using liquid, you will usually have to pour in half a bottle.
- Swirl the dyed water so that the dye disperses evenly.
Step 4. Soak the clothes in the water
Put the garments in the colored water and let them soak until they change color evenly.
Use a ladle to completely press the fabric under the surface
Step 5. Let the clothes simmer
Once the colored water reaches a boil, lower the heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
- Periodically turn your clothes over to ensure even dyeing.
- Do not cover the pot.
Step 6. Rinse your clothes under running water
Carefully remove the pieces from the boiling colored water using two spoons and move them to a metal sink. Run the hot water over the clothes, gradually decreasing the temperature until the running water becomes freezing and the rinse water appears clean.
- Empty the pot into a metal sink to get rid of the water.
- A lot of dye will come off as you rinse the fabric. This is normal and inevitable.
- Using cold water will eventually set the dye on your clothes.
Step 7. Let your clothes air dry
Hang them up and let them dry completely.
- Do not let them dry in the dryer.
- Place an old towel or rag under your clothes to absorb any falling drops.
Part 4 of 4: Chemical Dye, Washing Machine Method
Step 1. Fill the washing machine with hot water
Use the hottest one possible, provided this is safe for the type of fabric you will be dyeing.
Set the washing machine to fill with enough water for a small load. If you fill it all in, the dye will dilute too much and your clothes will come out faded
Step 2. Pour the dye into the water while the washing machine fills
Continue pouring the product throughout this process.
- You don't have to add the clothes yet.
- By adding the dye to the machine as it fills with water, you won't have to turn it over. The rapid flow of water into the basket will mix the dye sufficiently.
- Follow the instructions on the chemical dye package of your choice. You will usually use the whole packet of powdered tincture or half a bottle of the liquid one.
Step 3. Add the clothes to the colored water
Once the washing machine has finished loading the water, add the pieces together.
Do not forget that the clothes should be wet before being placed in the colored water of the washing machine, otherwise the color will not set properly
Step 4. Set a 30 minute cycle
Reset the washing cycle of the washing machine to take 30 minutes to complete the process. Set it on a longer cycle if you want to generate a more intense color.
The advantage of the washing machine is that you will not have to turn the clothes while they are soaking in the colored water. Instead, the machine will move the clothes for you
Step 5. Set the washing machine to do another rinse cycle
Let the clothes go through a full rinse cycle in the washing machine to remove some of the excess dye.
Use lukewarm water for this rinse cycle. Warm water will remove excess dye faster than cold water
Step 6. Wash your clothes with detergent on a normal cycle
Set a normal wash cycle with cold water and a mild detergent.
- Cold water will set the tint. Meanwhile, the wash cycle will cleanse the cloths, cleaning them after being immersed in colored water.
- Do not wash other clothes with dyed ones.
- Dry clothes in the dryer or by hanging them in sunlight.
Step 7. Run the washing machine that is now empty
After removing the dyed clothes from the machine, run it for another wash cycle to rinse off the excess dye and prepare it for the next load.
For best results, use warm water and 250ml bleach
Advice
- Protect your hands and any clothes you are wearing by wearing disposable gloves, a lab coat or apron. To be on the safe side, wear clothes that you wouldn't mind ruining or dirtying when you dye more.
- Keep in mind that different fabrics react to the same dye in different ways. Fabrics that can be dyed will also take on a slightly different shade due to the fiber content and weight. As a result, if a dress you dye has sections made of different materials, they will take on different shades even though they have used the same color.
- Use stainless steel or other metal pots and sinks to dye and rinse clothes. Do not use any plastic or porcelain items, as the dye will likely stain it.
