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I have a chocolate brown woolen skirt that I’d like to dye to become rose-brown. or lighter brown. Whats the way to go? Is it color remover first and then dye?
MB, I saw this on the Rit Color Remover site and thought it was helpful…..”RIT color remover works best on any item we can dye. If your wool garment has any kind of tag that says dry clean only. it would not be recommended for any RIT product. One box of color remover does 3 gallons of water for the stove top method, two boxes does a small/medium load in a top load washer and three boxes does a large load in a top load washer. This product can be used up to an hour without any damage to fabric. All RIT products require constant agitation so that they will work evenly.” So, I would suggest looking on the tag of your skirt to see if it is machine washable. If it is, then use color remover first to get it lighter in order to take the dye and change it to the color you want it to be. You may want to use a lower heat in the process so it doesn’t damage the fabric (depending on what the label says). I hope that helps! Let me know how it turns out.
Thanks for all these great ideas and tips! I was so excited after I watched your last video on dyeing clothes because I had several items that I loved but wasn’t wearing because the colors were wrong for me (I’m a 2/3). I started with a black jacket, removed the color with the color remover, and then dyed it a blueish grey color! I am so happy with it and so glad I didn’t get rid of it :). Here’s a picture of the jacket after using the color remover, and then the finished product.
I doubt that the metallic threads would change colors, but you could test it on a small area inside the sweater that will be hidden just to make sure. I’ve had the best success with black denim turning grey with bleach, like my example above.
Has anyone tried removing color from a wool coat? I have a beautiful dress coat with Type 2 design lines, but it’s black, and I’d love to change up the color!
Maggie, I saw this on the Rit website, “RIT color remover works best on any item we can dye. If your wool garment has any kind of tag that says dry clean only. it would not be recommended for any RIT product. This product can be used up to an hour without any damage to fabric. All RIT products require constant agitation so that they will work evenly.” So, I would suggest looking on the tag of your coat to see if it is machine washable. If it is, then use color remover first to get it lighter in order to take the dye and change it to the color you want it to be. You may want to use a lower heat in the process so it doesn’t damage the fabric (depending on what the label says). I hope that helps! It will be interesting to see if anyone else responds and has had experience with wool.
Thank you, Michelle! How thoughful of you to share! I’ll check those cold water dyes out!
Of course! I just filmed a dying video today where I talk about those dyes (specifically for Type 1 and Type 4’s) and how to use them. It should be posted within a month.
Thank you Michelle, I’m looking forward to experimenting. I love your lighter hair colours, they really suit you!
Michelle, if anyone knows a way to change a Down coat my black one needs transformation. It says it can be washed cold, but will the down be adversely affected? I will need a bigger pot. lol
Ouida, I’m not sure what using color remover would do to Down. I’ve never tried it before. If you decide to experiment then let us know how it turned out. And yes, you would definitely need a bigger pot! 🙂
I usually don’t have color coming off after the first time, but I know that procion dyes are supposed to be colorfast since you use the soda ash to set them. Check out the dying video for T1 and T4’s.
Thanks Michelle, I have watched the dying video again! The only color I have been brave enough to try is black…trying to saturate some older items. They all look great but I still hand wash in cold water because so much color comes off. I will try the procion dye with my next project.
I have a beautiful 100% polyester skirt that I love, however it is black with white polka dots, and I have recently discovered I am a T1. Any suggestions to turning it into a T1 color? I feel using color remover would only turn the black into grey. Maybe that would be a first step, but I have never dyed clothes, and could use some advice.
I’m really not sure what would happen since it’s polyester. I’ve found that I only experiment on the clothing if I won’t be sad to ruin it, since removing color and dying isn’t an exact science. You really never know exactly what you’re going to get, unfortunately. Bleach should only be used on natural fibers, so color remover is probably your best bet as far as removing color.
Hi, Michelle! First, thanks SO much for doing these great videos on refashioning clothes and shoes! I appreciate it, including your wonderful t2 attention to the details that are crucial in dyeing clothes!
I can tell you why the pants in the color remover went from tan in the solution, back to blue when you took them out: It’s because the color remover suspended the indigo in the solution. Part of the process of dyeing with indigo is using this so-called color remover to suspend the indigo in an oxygen-free solution, in which it looks kinda yellow-green. When you remove the dyed article from the dyepot, it takes a few minutes for the oxygen in the air to turn it blue. (Dyeing with indigo is fascinating! You might want to try it sometime! 🙂 )
Cheers!
How do I remove the dyed to Type 2 colours clothing to Type 1 now that I realize that is my dominant and my Type is my secondary? Also when colouring white clothing to Type 1 colours what do I do? Do I have to dye the white to a Type 1 white first and then add the colour to make it a Type 1 colour of clothing? And what colours of RIT dye would be considered Type 1 right away? Thanks. Many of these clothes have been dyed T3, then T2 and now wanting them to be T1. Help!
Thank you Michelle. I will definitely look into it and see if removing the T2 grey colour that was at one time a T3 colour, to a lighter colour will lighten enough that I can then add the white dye and see what happens. I will definitely let you know how my experimenting goes 😉
I am trying to turn black into a chocolate brown. I’ve had 1 success and 7 fails. I just found out I’m a 1 and not a 4. So I have a lot of black to experiment with. I’ll post pics – I’m not giving up on some of the fails. I gave my sister 2 of the fails because they turned out to be a perfect type 3 (that’s what she is). I started dying everything before I watched this video. Thanks, it’s given me a 2nd wind. I didn’t know about the Hydrogen Peroxide to neutralized the bleach. I just transferred everything to my washing machine and ran it through a few cycles. I’m excited to try it again with this new information.
Good luck Cyn. Hopefully you get more successes! Have you tried dying anything navy blue, after removing the color? I wonder if adding navy and a little bit of a brighter blue would give you the pop that would take it to T1 territory? I wish it were an exact science, but unfortunately it’s not. I’d love to see a picture of any successes you get.
At the “I Love My Life” event I talked to one of the type 4 experts about recipes, but not yet on asking the Facebook group. I’m a bit shy of posting, but that’s a good idea. I should definitely source them for information.
Yes, I think they could probably give you some really good tips. Good luck!
this is great, I have jeans and a denim dress I want to bleach
I have a chocolate brown woolen skirt that I’d like to dye to become rose-brown. or lighter brown. Whats the way to go? Is it color remover first and then dye?
Michelle is the go to person on this, there are lots of resources on the carol blog too, good luck!
MB, I saw this on the Rit Color Remover site and thought it was helpful…..”RIT color remover works best on any item we can dye. If your wool garment has any kind of tag that says dry clean only. it would not be recommended for any RIT product. One box of color remover does 3 gallons of water for the stove top method, two boxes does a small/medium load in a top load washer and three boxes does a large load in a top load washer. This product can be used up to an hour without any damage to fabric. All RIT products require constant agitation so that they will work evenly.” So, I would suggest looking on the tag of your skirt to see if it is machine washable. If it is, then use color remover first to get it lighter in order to take the dye and change it to the color you want it to be. You may want to use a lower heat in the process so it doesn’t damage the fabric (depending on what the label says). I hope that helps! Let me know how it turns out.
M B, I just found some cold water dyes that are supposed to work for wool. Here is a link if you’re interested. http://www.dharmatrading.com/d…
Great tips as always. Thank you Michelle.
Thank you Sue-Ellen.
Thanks for all these great ideas and tips! I was so excited after I watched your last video on dyeing clothes because I had several items that I loved but wasn’t wearing because the colors were wrong for me (I’m a 2/3). I started with a black jacket, removed the color with the color remover, and then dyed it a blueish grey color! I am so happy with it and so glad I didn’t get rid of it :). Here’s a picture of the jacket after using the color remover, and then the finished product.
Wow! That looks amazing Kalli. I love how it turned out!
Whoops not sure what happened to the pictures. Here they are.
Love it!
Wow!
Love your videos,Michelle, thank you! The question of blue appearing when oxygen struck the brownish jeans fabric, (around 5:00) made me think about Indigo, which is used to dye blue jeans. Here is the Dharma Trading page for their Indigo dyeing kit. Watch the short video that gives a brief overview of how it works (and why your jeans turned blue again). http://www.dharmatrading.com/kits/starter/sets/indigo-dye-kit.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAtri0BRDLoaCF95e7o_sBEiQA_pgRQxLnp0HxznX7EPsOeGj1GmvG-Vk55JW6pi7HPYC8Ut8aAl1V8P8HAQ
How interesting! Thanks for posting that Christine.
I have a gold sweater with metallic gold threads through it. Can it dye to a grey color? Also, what is the best way to turn black denim to grey?
I doubt that the metallic threads would change colors, but you could test it on a small area inside the sweater that will be hidden just to make sure. I’ve had the best success with black denim turning grey with bleach, like my example above.
Great tips Michelle, thanks.
Has anyone tried removing color from a wool coat? I have a beautiful dress coat with Type 2 design lines, but it’s black, and I’d love to change up the color!
Maggie, I saw this on the Rit website, “RIT color remover works best on any item we can dye. If your wool garment has any kind of tag that says dry clean only. it would not be recommended for any RIT product. This product can be used up to an hour without any damage to fabric. All RIT products require constant agitation so that they will work evenly.” So, I would suggest looking on the tag of your coat to see if it is machine washable. If it is, then use color remover first to get it lighter in order to take the dye and change it to the color you want it to be. You may want to use a lower heat in the process so it doesn’t damage the fabric (depending on what the label says). I hope that helps! It will be interesting to see if anyone else responds and has had experience with wool.
Thanks so much, Michelle! I’ll look into it and if I’m able to dye it, I’ll keep you all posted on how it goes! 🙂
YES! Please keep us posted. I’d love to see a picture of the final product.
Maggie, I just found some cold water dyes that are supposed to work for wool. Here is a link if you’re interested. http://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html
Thank you, Michelle! How thoughful of you to share! I’ll check those cold water dyes out!
Of course! I just filmed a dying video today where I talk about those dyes (specifically for Type 1 and Type 4’s) and how to use them. It should be posted within a month.
Thank you Michelle, I’m looking forward to experimenting. I love your lighter hair colours, they really suit you!
Thank you Keri. I’m always experimenting with my hair. 🙂
Michelle, if anyone knows a way to change a Down coat my black one needs transformation. It says it can be washed cold, but will the down be adversely affected? I will need a bigger pot. lol
Ouida, I’m not sure what using color remover would do to Down. I’ve never tried it before. If you decide to experiment then let us know how it turned out. And yes, you would definitely need a bigger pot! 🙂
Hi Michele, Is there a way to set the color once you dye an item so you don’t have to wash separately forever after?
I usually don’t have color coming off after the first time, but I know that procion dyes are supposed to be colorfast since you use the soda ash to set them. Check out the dying video for T1 and T4’s.
https://my.liveyourtruth.com/dyt/type-1-and-type-4-dyeing-clothes/
Thanks Michelle, I have watched the dying video again! The only color I have been brave enough to try is black…trying to saturate some older items. They all look great but I still hand wash in cold water because so much color comes off. I will try the procion dye with my next project.
I have a beautiful 100% polyester skirt that I love, however it is black with white polka dots, and I have recently discovered I am a T1. Any suggestions to turning it into a T1 color? I feel using color remover would only turn the black into grey. Maybe that would be a first step, but I have never dyed clothes, and could use some advice.
I’m really not sure what would happen since it’s polyester. I’ve found that I only experiment on the clothing if I won’t be sad to ruin it, since removing color and dying isn’t an exact science. You really never know exactly what you’re going to get, unfortunately. Bleach should only be used on natural fibers, so color remover is probably your best bet as far as removing color.
Hi, Michelle! First, thanks SO much for doing these great videos on refashioning clothes and shoes! I appreciate it, including your wonderful t2 attention to the details that are crucial in dyeing clothes!
I can tell you why the pants in the color remover went from tan in the solution, back to blue when you took them out: It’s because the color remover suspended the indigo in the solution. Part of the process of dyeing with indigo is using this so-called color remover to suspend the indigo in an oxygen-free solution, in which it looks kinda yellow-green. When you remove the dyed article from the dyepot, it takes a few minutes for the oxygen in the air to turn it blue. (Dyeing with indigo is fascinating! You might want to try it sometime! 🙂 )
Cheers!
Wow, that’s fascinating! Thanks for explaining that Susan.
How do I remove the dyed to Type 2 colours clothing to Type 1 now that I realize that is my dominant and my Type is my secondary? Also when colouring white clothing to Type 1 colours what do I do? Do I have to dye the white to a Type 1 white first and then add the colour to make it a Type 1 colour of clothing? And what colours of RIT dye would be considered Type 1 right away? Thanks. Many of these clothes have been dyed T3, then T2 and now wanting them to be T1. Help!
Thank you Michelle. I will definitely look into it and see if removing the T2 grey colour that was at one time a T3 colour, to a lighter colour will lighten enough that I can then add the white dye and see what happens. I will definitely let you know how my experimenting goes 😉
I am trying to turn black into a chocolate brown. I’ve had 1 success and 7 fails. I just found out I’m a 1 and not a 4. So I have a lot of black to experiment with. I’ll post pics – I’m not giving up on some of the fails. I gave my sister 2 of the fails because they turned out to be a perfect type 3 (that’s what she is). I started dying everything before I watched this video. Thanks, it’s given me a 2nd wind. I didn’t know about the Hydrogen Peroxide to neutralized the bleach. I just transferred everything to my washing machine and ran it through a few cycles. I’m excited to try it again with this new information.
Good luck Cyn. Hopefully you get more successes! Have you tried dying anything navy blue, after removing the color? I wonder if adding navy and a little bit of a brighter blue would give you the pop that would take it to T1 territory? I wish it were an exact science, but unfortunately it’s not. I’d love to see a picture of any successes you get.
When I was type 4-ing, I bought a lot of navy, but I got rid of all my chocolate brown. 🙁 —
Now it seems like navy is the new thing, but since I already have a lot of it, I wanted to see if I could repurpose my black clothes..my 100% cotton black. I’m not really getting a chocolate color.They are still a little dirty. I think I might mix the brown dye I was using with a drop of black to see if it gives me the color I want. I have experience in mixing colors when I used to paint, and I could make various shades of brown based in my paintings. I figure I’ll try the same thing with the dye. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ea26160707d91b1d72eb07d65d87f8e373c5a531f553110b8a3d9d23b6b18e15.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/973a8dba29a37b663e61adc101f4d4e47d86fa98b8d21ea3e1f213adb08674d6.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6a3849c6ce39ffc343620c52a03ed1bf050bccc2d4c00906a8c48d4751de658a.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b73b32b4d4001496224bc85ae41e9dd8a78aeafe875753b600a3d620310c7882.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b4c023b7e32acb2b9747121747bc0ff6b422e5013106c3dbe23a9dd97a4c2b4f.jpg
Have you asked the ladies in the T1 Facebook group to see if any of them have any success with chocolate brown?
At the “I Love My Life” event I talked to one of the type 4 experts about recipes, but not yet on asking the Facebook group. I’m a bit shy of posting, but that’s a good idea. I should definitely source them for information.
Yes, I think they could probably give you some really good tips. Good luck!