How to dye fabric at home and how you can do it yourself

Your favorite curtains have faded and become faded - and you want to update their color at home. How to dye fabric? There are many options, you just need to choose the right method. If you master this procedure, your clothes will always look new and fresh. Not every housewife will look at the label on jeans or a T-shirt before washing. A new item that can only be washed by hand in warm water flies into the washing machine and loses its appearance. Don’t rush to take good clothes to the countryside - if the structure of the fabric is not damaged, the color can be restored.

Types of fabrics that can be dyed

Below are fabrics that can be dyed:

Nylon can be painted with powder paint. The fabric absorbs the dye very quickly.
Cotton, silk, linen, wool, wool mixture, these are the most suitable fabrics for dyeing. Absorbs paint easily and quickly, the color lasts for a long time.
PVC fabrics are used for banners and street advertising. Acrylic dyes are used to color it.

Work process
Sweaters, jumpers and other warm items must not be dyed. The pigment will not be able to penetrate evenly into the fibers, which will simply ruin the product.

Natural cotton

How to dye white fabric using brilliant green and other dyes?

Tulle and curtains are accessories that people notice when they enter your room. Fabric curtains can both decorate and hopelessly ruin your entire interior.

Painting curtains a different color quickly and without any special effort is one of the acceptable options for transforming the appearance of a room. By changing the color scheme of clothes for windows, as well as choosing cute things to match, you can get a new solution for your home or work environment.

Do-it-yourself painting of tulle and curtains can help you if you don’t have the funds or time to update the interior and make repairs, but your soul is asking for something new. The painting process is very economical in every sense, because:

no significant cash outlay is required to purchase dyes;
it is not necessary to waste your time waiting, and also listen to the designer’s recommendations;
there is no need to walk for a long time from store to store in search of new materials;
There is a possibility of re-painting.

Home conditions are suitable to give your window wardrobe a new look on your own. Let's take a step-by-step look at the process of how to paint fabric with brilliant green and other equally interesting means at hand. Moreover, this fabric can be the basis of both interior decor and your clothing.

Textile preparation

Before you start dyeing fabric at home, you need to prepare it.

You need to know about some painting rules before starting work:

White fabrics can be dyed almost any color. And before dyeing bright things and fabrics, first bleach and remove the pigment;
It must be remembered that the effectiveness of dyeing depends on the composition of the fabric. Best of all, the dye adheres to cotton material;
Before starting work, be sure to wash the items for uniform coloring;
To understand how much paint is needed, things are weighed and this parameter is determined;
Painting things should be done in distilled water. Soften regular running water with baking soda.

Synthetic material

Preparatory operations

When using chemical dyes, be sure to read the instructions for them. Each manufacturer can make its own recommendations for the coloring process, but there are general requirements for both chemical and natural preparations. Items must be washed thoroughly, free of dirt and stains. If the dirt does not wash off, use a stain remover and then rinse the product well. Sometimes fruit and vegetable juices leave residue that cannot be removed. There is only one way out - paint the item in a color several tones darker than the stain. Boil starched linen in a solution of soap and soda, then rinse. Remove all decorative metal and plastic elements; they may lose their appearance when painted.

Sometimes things need to be altered after painting. In this case, all seams must be opened in advance so that they are evenly saturated with pigment. If you decide to dye a lined jacket or raincoat, be sure to open the bottom seam. Air bubbles collected between the lining and the base material will prevent the dye from being evenly distributed on the fabric.

Prepare all necessary equipment in advance. First of all, find a tank in which the fabric will be completely submerged in water and lie freely. It is advisable to take an enamel container. You can use a galvanized or aluminum vessel if you clean it well from scale. Prepare two smooth wooden sticks with which you will stir and turn the product over. Don't forget to buy rubber gloves, otherwise your hands will be painted the most fantastic color for several days and you will have to hide them from others.

Now you need to prepare the liquid. It is advisable to use soft melt or rain water. If you only have hard water, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the bucket of liquid. First dilute the powder dyes in a small container so that no grains remain. Strain the solution and pour into the paint tank.

Dyes for materials

The most popular fabric paints are acrylic and natural. They are the most affordable, and the results almost always last up to 20 washes. Such substances do not affect the human body because they do not contain ammonia or other toxins. For needlewomen, it is recommended to use powder dye. It is convenient to stir it and control the exact amount needed for the product.

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Acrylic paints

These dyes are good because they require minimal preliminary preparation. Drawing on fabric is as easy as drawing on paper. But, it is advisable to understand that to apply a pattern to a thing you need to use a stencil.

Textile dye

This way the drawing will turn out clear and without blurring along the contour.

Important! Paints can be diluted with water, but not too much, otherwise all their properties will deteriorate.

Since acrylic paints dry quickly, the jar should not be left open for more than an hour. Otherwise, all its properties will be lost. If you need to trace the lines of the drawing carefully, it is recommended to buy a special outline for clothing.

Turmeric for yellow color

Aniline dyes

These are organic substances that are formed as a result of the oxidation of aniline. The main component, aniline, was derived from natural indigo. Scientists have been able to prove that bright colors can be made using it. Aniline dyes are partly used in production for dyeing things. At home, fabric dyeing with such paints is not done.

Natural dyes for fabrics

Natural dyes are taken from food, seasonings and other things. The most popular are turmeric (for the yellow color), barberry, buckwheat, blackberry, blueberry, etc.

Traditional methods

Many people use such paints because they are safe and do not cost too much. But painting with such means is a rather labor-intensive process. For green color, medicines such as brilliant green and potassium permanganate are used. Brown and dark colors could be obtained by mixing black coffee, onion skins and tea. For blue and gray colors, currants are usually used. The entire process of cooking the fabric will take about three hours. But the color will last longer than with any store-bought paint.

Pigment selection

What natural dye can be used to dye fabric:

tea;
cocoa - for a chocolate shade;
rich coffee will turn black;
onion peel;
wolf berries - red;
blueberries, blackberries for a juicy purple color;
cranberry;
walnut peel - beige or sandy;
spinach, sorrel, elderberry leaves will color the canvas green;
beets for the pink to burgundy range;
cabbage;
turmeric, celandine – orange, red;
carrot juice, sea buckthorn.

On a note

Tip: to consolidate the results of using natural pigments, use vinegar essence and salt.

How you can dye things: stores sell a special fabric dye in the form of a liquid, paste, spray or powder. The main advantage of such a tool is that there are clear instructions, it’s difficult to make a mistake. Some people use food coloring.

Is it possible to dye fabric with hair dye: yes, but the color may not be very saturated. Especially if you use dark shades on heavily faded material. If you are not careful, the material will become stained.

Natural fibers are painted with acrylic paints. It is not possible to fill artificial or synthetic organza with pigment using acrylic paints.

White fabric dye comes in acrylic, aniline, or spray form. It is applied to pre-bleached fabric to give a pure shade.

Folk remedies

Natural paints include mint (for green), beets (for red and pink), activated carbon and other products containing a large amount of pigment.

Machine painting

But since in modern times there is a large selection of dyes for clothes, almost no one uses such recipes. In the past, many women would boil jeans or outerwear for several hours to give the item a fresh look.

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How to dye wool for hand felting?

A variety of products are made from felting wool: shoes, dolls, decorative items, handbags, hats. How to paint it yourself? The plant component or artificial color is added to a container of water, placed on the fire and brought to a boil. The wool mass is dipped in boiling water, the heat is reduced to low and left to simmer for 1.5–2 hours.

When the wool acquires the desired shade, it is removed and left to cool. The cold mass is washed several times under running cool water. To fix the color, add a little mordant. The fibers are dried in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air away from direct sunlight. After this, they are carefully combed - and the wool is ready for felting.

Dyeing in the washing machine

Dyeing fabrics in a machine takes about half an hour (linen and cotton fabrics are suitable):

First, prepare the paint, mix it;
Pour the coloring pigment into the compartment of the washing machine intended for powder;
Load things into the car, but before that, wet them well;
Set the washing temperature to 80 degrees, not lower;
Wash for about 30 minutes;
Rinse items by hand in cool water.

Leather jacket
After painting, wash the machine. Otherwise, the next time you wash, there is a risk of staining unnecessary items.

Helpful Tips and Tricks

Before painting, weigh the product - this will allow you to determine the exact amount of dye.
Dishes that have been stained with chemicals must not be used for cooking!
For silk fabrics: when rinsing, add 1 tbsp to the water. vinegar.
For wool fabrics: dissolve the dye in hot water.
For denim and linen clothes: first add a pinch of ash salt to the dye and only then dissolve it in water.
If the cellulose fabric is stained unevenly, soak it in hot water and laundry detergent. This measure will help even out the color.
If the item is going to be altered, then it needs to be ripped apart at the seams before dyeing.
You can put a wooden plank at the bottom of the container to prevent the clothes from burning.
Do not dry wool items on hangers. They can stretch out under their own weight. Just lay them out on a flat surface.

Don't be afraid to experiment! May your old clothes be reborn and serve you for some time to come!

Is it possible to dye a Bolognese jacket?

Before painting the jacket, it must be soaked in hot water. This is necessary to ensure that the paint is evenly distributed throughout the product. You can soak it in the bathtub or in a basin. After this, take out the jacket and smooth out all the creases so that the paint adheres correctly. Heat water in a large saucepan; there should be enough water to completely cover the item.

Important! The jacket should float in the water so that the pigment is evenly absorbed. It is advisable to choose a very large pan. Over medium heat, boil water. Next, pour water into a large basin and put the jacket there.

Painting a nightgown

The water temperature should be approximately 70 degrees. Add paint to boiling water and stir quickly. One package of pigment requires at least 10 liters of liquid. For a less vibrant color, less water is needed. The paint is dissolved in a separate container. Pour 250 ml of boiling water over the powder packet and stir. Even liquid dyes are first diluted with water. To make the color more saturated, you can add a spoonful of vinegar to the water. Dye the jacket for about 2 hours.

Required tools for application

What you need for work is fireproof dishes - glass or enamel. The volume of the dish should be such that the product floats freely in it. Stir the item using wooden tongs or sticks without knots. Work with rubber gloves, using measuring containers, paper towels, and scales.

If you need to make a drawing, you will need stencils, outlines, and a palette. A hoop is used to tension the fabric.

Proper care of the product after dyeing is completed

It is forbidden to dry products under direct sun;
The first 3 washes should be carried out separately from other items so as not to accidentally stain them;

Painting with berries

When rinsing, add vinegar so that the color does not wash out longer;
Rinse only in water at room temperature;
Do not use aggressive detergents; powder is suitable for all types of fabrics;
For the first time, dry only in a horizontal position.

In conclusion, it should be noted that dyeing fabric yourself at home is quite simple. The main thing is to pay attention to the composition of the paint before purchasing. The better the composition and the more famous the manufacturer, the higher the chance that the painted product will remain bright and juicy for more than one month.

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Also, after painting, you must adhere to the rules for caring for things; as a rule, the pigment begins to wash out after 10 washes. But if you are not confident in your skills, it is better to take the product to the dry cleaner for painting.

Preparation

Preparing to paint things at home:

You will need a clean canvas. It is thoroughly washed and rinsed. There should be no detergent left. It will react with the dye, the result will be unpredictable.
Before washing and subsequent dyeing of the fabric, stains must be removed. With them the color will be uneven. A non-aggressive stain remover is needed.
For intensity, the material is boiled for 10 minutes or bleached before the process.
It is necessary to remove all unnecessary objects: buttons, snaps, and remove the metal lock. Painting the fabric will ruin them and may cause rust in the future.
What paint can be used to paint different colors of materials? Light and white clothes lend themselves to all shades. Colored - only dark, but can be pre-bleached. How to dye fabric at home? Black products will first have to be bleached for a long time, this can damage the structure of the fibers. To turn a black item made from natural fibers into a gray color, it is enough to boil it several times with an aggressive powder. You can add just a little bleach.
Natural fabric is easy to paint. It's easy to dye cotton, wool or linen at home. They quickly absorb paint and do not fade. Finished synthetic products are almost not painted. Chemical fibers are colored at the initial stages of production. You will need special paint for synthetics.
A new linen or cotton item is saturated with starch. Before dyeing clothes, it must be removed. Make a solution of soap and soda and boil for twenty minutes. Then rinse to remove all excess substances.
Wool yarn is rolled into skeins and tied with rope in several places. It shouldn't get tangled in the process. For convenient turning over, the skeins are strung on a rope.
Fabric dyeing is done in distilled water. Tap water is softened by adding a teaspoon of soda per ten liters.

The amount of dye depends on the weight of the product. How to paint things with paint is described below.

Inventory preparation

To paint things you will need:

Enameled or glass fireproof container. There should be no chipped pieces. Before using aluminum or galvanized basins, scale must be removed from them.
The size of the dish should allow the product to float freely without creasing. Fabric dye will not absorb evenly.
To mix the paint and turn things over, you will need two wooden sticks. They are pre-cleaned of knots/irregularities.
Scales or measuring cup/spoon and paper towels are required.

Important: work is carried out with rubber gloves. The dye will damage delicate skin or will not wash off for several days.

General information

But whatever the fabric - natural, synthetic, the general recommendations are as follows:
The item of clothing must be cleanly washed and free of stains, otherwise the paint may not adhere to the spot where they are located. And this area will stand out unfavorably on clothing.
Weigh the product. For high-quality dyeing, the proportions of the dye composition must be strictly observed, which are determined based on the weight parameters of the clothing.
While dyeing, remove buttons and decorative elements from the item.
Choose options for the resulting shade that are close to the original, and not contrasting; the coloring matter can cope with such a fundamental task.
Make a trial version - dye a piece of fabric similar to the material of the item.
Use protective gloves when working with the dye.
Strictly follow the instructions on the paint packaging. Measuring the weight and duration of paint “by eye” is tantamount to failure.

General recommendations

Tips on how to dye clothes at home:

if there are several products, they are painted one by one;
wool product is diluted at high temperature;
before dyeing flax and denim, the paint is mixed with a pinch of calcined salt, then dissolved with water;
unevenly dyed viscose is placed briefly in a hot solution of washing powder - the color will become even;
It is recommended to dye silk by adding a tablespoon of vinegar;
the product that will be altered is ripped out before painting;
to avoid burning, place a board at the bottom of the container;
It is not difficult to dye a faded item; it absorbs the dye easily;
Woolen clothes are dried flat out to prevent them from stretching.

Synthetic products should not be dyed yourself. Where to dye the fabric: you need to take the item to the dry cleaner. Professionals will do this evenly and correctly.

Useful

Interesting: you can mark a thing with ink, for example, when sending a child to camp. It will be impossible to iron the painted area and erase the mark.