Comments on: Can I dye a silk shirt?

Question: Can I dye a silk shirt?

puddinghead — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 21:38:50 -0800

I'd like to dye a silk blouse. Any thoughts? Any suggestions for an appropriate brand of dye, or should I not attempt this at all?

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 21:59:20 -0800

Dharma Trading Company sells dye for silk and has instructions for tub dying on their website. Silk dyes very nicely- it's sometimes a little difficult to know exactly how the color will turn out without a test strip though.

By: pullayup

pullayup — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:45:47 -0800

I second the Dharma Trading Company suggestion. Wash the garment with this stuff if you're concerned about an even tone. In my experience, it really makes a difference--even freshly laundered fabric can have enough crap (detergent/soap residue, fabric softener, lip balm that was in your pocket in the dryer last winter) on it to make for splotchy dyeing.
This won't be cheap, at least not like dumping a packet of Rit and some salt or whatever into the washing machine, so make sure it's worth the expense, or find other things that you'd like to dye the same color.
And please, please don't tye-dye anything.

By: pullayup

pullayup — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:48:36 -0800

By 'won't be cheap' I meant maybe $20, with shipping..I didn't intend to scare you off.

By: puddinghead

puddinghead — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 01:16:30 -0800

Excellent! Thanks for the help.

By: Secret Life of Gravy

Secret Life of Gravy — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 11:19:08 -0800

I've used Procion Dye for many years and silk in particular is a dream to dye. I prefer a more mottled, uneven, hand dyed look myself and you can scrunch silk, apply the dye with a brush or dip it in multiple colors. Combining colors gives you a greater, much richer palette than is available with commercially dyed fabrics. I've used hand dyed materials to make fantastic sofa cushions, quilts, and wall hangings.

The problem with dying a ready made garment however is usually the thread takes the dye differently than the material. This means that you will have contrasting (usually lighter) thread at the seams, hems and buttonholes.

By: criticalsass

criticalsass — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 12:54:25 -0800

Silk will dye beautifully, providing the thread is also made with a natural fiber. Even with a cheap dye like RIT (though the colors tend to be way off on cheap dyes like that.)