Does anyone have experience dying fabric?

[FrostyShimmer]

I don't know how I did it, but I just noticed my favourite knit sweater (cream-coloured) has a bright orange stain on the back. I have worn it for years, but there is not a pull or a loose stitch anywhere. I love the sweater and it seems a shame to get rid of it, but I can't exactly wear it with the giant stain either (other than around the house.)

It is 100% cotton. Does anyone known whether or not it would dye well? If anyone has experience in this I would greatly appreciate any advice or recommendations.

Thanks

:bigsnow:

 

[hollybow]

if it´s 100% cotton...there will be no problems dying it.. it will absorb all the coulours without a trace...I often did it myself with white T-shirts..some fruit stains (peach ..blueberry..) won´t go out.. so I dyed it black..no problem...one tip..when you dye it in the washing machine.. add a bit of vinegar ( 1 spoonful) and you will get brighter colours... and to be sure..after dying it in the machine wash darker clothes the next time.. I always did.. I was afraid of my white clothes... and I have to admit it worked very well....

 

[Lana]

I have also dyed items that had stains on them with good results.

 

[FrostyShimmer]

Thanks for the tips. I'm going to try to find some dye this weekend to fix it up.

:bigsnow:

 

[RadioJonD]

There was that one time that I had to hurridly tie-dye the bright orange jumpsuit that I was wearing. 'Course I was also concerned with filing through the handcuffs and dying my hair black. Those cocktail waitresses were of no help at all!

Good luck with the sweater!

 

[FrostyShimmer]

Okay, the instructions on the dye said I had to run my washer with bleach in it afterwards, and I didn't have bleach (and its a long way to get it) so I did it in a pot of simmering water on the stove.

I am thrilled with the results! I can't find any evidence of the stain. To think of all the clothes I've thrown away over the years that could have been saved with a little dye!

I dyed it a royal blue and was surprised how strong the colour was. After it dyed for an hour I rinsed it as best as I could, then put it through 2 cycles in the washer with detergent. It was still nice and bright when it came out.

Now I'm trying to think of all the random things in my house I could dye....facecloths with bleach spots...old stained tablecloths.

Maybe I could dye a bunch of rags and old sheets and mag a nice rag rug that's one colour? Ooh...so many new crafty possibilities.

:bigsnow:

 

[Lana]

Hey, the rug sounds cool! We are going to be doing out breezeway into a family room I think finally!!!!!!!!!!! Only been waiting for 15 yrs. or so. Anyway, I want yellow and a light blue and the colors aren't as easy to come by as they once were. Could dye the rags and crochet or braid a rug. HMMMMMMM....................

 

[FrostyShimmer]

Hey, the rug sounds cool! We are going to be doing out breezeway into a family room I think finally!!!!!!!!!!! Only been waiting for 15 yrs. or so. Anyway, I want yellow and a light blue and the colors aren't as easy to come by as they once were. Could dye the rays and crochet or braid a rug. HMMMMMMM....................

Here's a pattern for knitting a rug too. I've been debating whether to make this or do a rag rug in the colours I want for my foyer. http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=2233

 

[Lana]

The denim blue is the color with light yellow! I cannot knit. Grandma use to cut bread wrappers and also rags and she would crochet the bags single crochet and then just keep going oblong and around and around.l I still have a couple and use them and that is 28 yrs. old. The one is in a remote area so never gets any wear and tear. I have several of the rag ones and they wear so well. TFS!

 

[FrostyShimmer]

The denim blue is the color with light yellow! I cannot knit. Grandma use to cut bread wrappers and also rags and she would crochet the bags single crochet and then just keep going oblong and around and around.l I still have a couple and use them and that is 28 yrs. old. The one is in a remote area so never gets any wear and tear. I have several of the rag ones and they wear so well. TFS!

..And I cannot crochet! lol. I came across something online last night about weaving grocery bags together to make a mat. I wasn't sure how well they would wear though.