Help with Dyeing

[Theyrenotdolls (Den Dragonson)]

So i finally found some fabric i liked, (heavy cotton twill) except it was in white. 11 yards x60in. I decided to dye it. I used 2 packs of cocoa brown and 2 packs of dark brown...in the washer. Everything worked out fine, except that the color is much lighter than i wanted.

What are my options to make it darker....should i get more boxes of dye? maybe use 5 dark brown plus one black? do i have to bleach this color before changing it?

any tips would be helpful.

Thanks,
Dennis

[Nova Darklighter]

OK, No do not bleach or remove the dye, try using a liquid and 5 + 1 black sounds like a good solution. Use hottest water possible. Generally the more fabric, the more dye, but dilution also counts. Let us know how it comes out.
If you can't get the liquid, the dry is fine, but the liquid is a bit better & less likely to leave blotch.
Why didn't you just buy a brown twill?

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

What Nova said.....you can just try again with more dye to get it darker. You have a lot of fabric there. Afterwards, you might also consider washing it again with a cup of white vinegar to set the color, though you may have to wash it again in hot water with detergent to get the vinegar smell out. And drying it in a hot dryer. Heat sets the color. But you will want to wash it by itself the first few times, just in case there is some bleeding and you don't want your other stuff to turn tan.

I just finished the cotton twill robe I was working on. I think I like the more supple wool-blend fabric better, but because the cotton is stiffer, it is much easier to see out of the hood when it's up because it stands up so well. I also dyed the fabric. It started out as a medium gray and I washed it with a couple of packets of tan and brown and some tea. It's ended up exactly the color I wanted; it's the color of dryer lint.

[Theyrenotdolls (Den Dragonson)]

so let me get this straight:

i'll use very hot water ( i'll boil a pot on the stove to add to the washer) with 5 packets of dark brown plus 1 black packet. I'll let it mix for 45min. or so. rinse, spin.

Then i'll wash it with a cup of white vinegar.

Then wash it with soap.

then dry in dryer...hot.

Sounds do-able.

THanks,
Dennis

btw, i didnt get a brown twill, b/c the fabric stores in my area s_u_c_k. joann's only had 8yards x45 in a brown twill.

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Yeah, something like that. The one thing to watch for it to make sure that there is plenty of water in the wash and that the fabric is loose and not twisted or bunched up in any places; that's what causes uneven coloring. Agitation is your friend.

[Theyrenotdolls (Den Dragonson)]

Ok, so i followed through with the plan, using 4 powder packets of dark brown dye , 1 liquid dye dark brown and 1 black dye powder. (that was for 11 yards of off white medium-heavy weight cotton twill fabric) ...see the dark brown fabric below.

the light brown color is the color i got with just 2 dark brown and 2 cocoa packs.






TND

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Hmmm, they look like good Jedi colors to me. How do you like them?

[Theyrenotdolls (Den Dragonson)]

I am quite pleased...the light brown was just a test scrap. i wanted darker so i did the 11 yards the color it is now. I have already given it to the seamstress that will be making my robe. hopefully in 1 or 2 weeks i'll have my robe!!!

TND

[Cailumm]

How much dye do you guys recomend to dye a bright white martial arts gi a deep royal blue?

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Do you want to dye the pants and the top of the gi, or just the top? You'll need twice as much dye if it's both. For a really deep color, I'd start with a box of dye to start with. If it's not dark enough you can always try again with another box.

One thing about the dyed fabric is to be careful the first few times you wash it. Not only can the color fade a little, it can also color other things in the wash with it. Only wash it with things for which the possible extra color won't matter, like dark colored towels.

[Theyrenotdolls (Den Dragonson)]

and make sure that the gi is 100% cotton or natural fibers. the poly blends do not dye well. THey Always turn out much lighter than intended.


TND

[Cailumm]

Thanks for the help guys but I found an easier solution to my problem. A blue Judo gi at karate-store.com Now if only they made tan and brown.

[Nova Darklighter]

I like both colours, but the dark worked well.

[Theyrenotdolls (Den Dragonson)]

my fabric is in the hands of my friend, a costumer, seamstress, etc. I think i'll have it by friday or so. I can't wait!

DS

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

You CAN dye a white Gi top tan, but use Dharma trading company's dye...The color will hold better. I found that by using RIT< it blead. They've dyes for naterual and syntheic fabrics. I've a dress I'd dyed emerald green and it's STILL the same shade since I dyed it ten years ago.