Dyeing Fabrics and Clothing: Tie-Dye / Sun Dyeing / Textile Paints / Fabric Painting

Dear community,
do you have experience with dyeing fabrics / clothing / tie-dye / sun dyeing / textile paints / fabric painting, and maybe a few tips you’d like to share here?

Well, dear Josefa, unfortunately I don’t have any experience with dyeing. But I was hoping someone here might post something.

I actually have a mustard-colored linen summer dress in my closet. The fabric is beautiful, but mustard yellow just isn’t my color at all. I didn’t buy it—I traded for it at my swap meet. Linen is lovely for summer, but I just couldn’t choose the color.

Can you just soak it in a dye bath you buy at the drugstore? They only have standard colors there, and they’re pretty expensive, too. And in the end, the color might end up looking even worse than it does now. So I guess it’ll just stay in the closet.

With items I’ve dyed this way in the past, only the natural materials took on the color. The zippers were probably sewn on with synthetic thread—so the seams stood out in a different color than the fabric.

I also used to re-dye black pants that had faded over time with black fabric dye. After a few washes, they looked just like they did before. And on top of that, my underwear ended up stained too. So dyeing hasn’t really impressed me so far. And it probably never will.

Best regards, Ina

A dress that just hangs in the closet has no value. If you like the cut and the material and it’s just the color you’re not happy with, I’d take the risk and try re-dyeing it if I were you.💪
The colors you can get at the drugstore are just the three or four “most popular” ones. Check out the supplier’s website—I think they have a pretty wide selection, and you can even mix the colors.
Of course, you’re right about plastic seams or zippers. They stubbornly hold onto their color… 😒
One more very important thing to prevent the colors from bleeding: don’t forget the color fixative.
I’ve only dyed clothes this way three times so far, in the washing machine. But it worked out well. 👍

Hi Josefa,
I’ve dyed a lot of things in the washing machine and have always had good results. You can even use the plastic zippers or seams—which don’t take dye—as design elements. Mustard yellow is, of course, a difficult base color; you can only go in the direction of brown or something similar, since the base color remains the same. I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you for your tips. I had no idea there were more options than just the standard colors. It never even occurred to me to check directly with the manufacturer. Thank you so much for the tip—I’ll give it a try.

Best regards, Ina