3.3 how do i dye clothes black?

General info.: For a good overview of how to dye clothes black, carefully read through the Dye It Black FAQ. The FAQ also includes a few dye resources and reference book information. For more dye resources, see below.

The important most thing when dyeing is the fabric -- natural fibers dye best, synthetic ones don't take dye reliably, if at all. Synthetic blends are also unpredictable.

Next is the dye bath -- many dyes work best in very hot boiling water, and you need to soak it as long as possible. Remember to stir the water frequently so the color comes out even (using a washer eliminates this problem, but then you stain the washer). And you'll probably have to devote an old pot and big wooden spoon to dyeing, since the dye will stain everything.

Also, a general warning -- it is definitely hard to dye true black at home. Don't blame yourself, 'cause it is difficult for everyone! If you do manage to get a true black, be very careful washing and caring for it because it may not be colorfast.

Dyes: The most commonly available fabric dye in the US is the brand Rit. However, this is not a very strong dye which makes it hard to get really dark colors using Rit. In fact, it is purposefully designed *not* to be very strong or dark. If this is the only dye you can get your hands on and you are trying to dye something black, use double the amount of Rit dye recommended, make sure to use very hot water, and let the fabric soak for a long time. While Rit is not great for dyeing something from one color to black, if all you want to do is revive the color on faded black clothes, Rit is a good option.

Another brand that is almost as commonly available is Dylon, which will give somewhat better results than Rit. But if you want very dark dyes, you may need to purchase professional stuff.

Dharma Trading Co.
P.O. Box 150916
San Rafael, CA 94915
Phone: (800) 542-5227 or (415) 456-7657
Fax: (415) 456-8747
catalog@dharmatrading.com
Free catalog
Fiber arts supplies including a huge variety of fabric dyes, paints, chemicals, and equipment, plus 'blank' garments (shirts, dresses, scarves, etc.) which you can purchase to dye, batik, tie-dye, marblize, or paint. Both the website and printed catalog have lots of how-tos, tips, and suggestions on how to use their dyes. Does mail-order.

Carly comments: i *love* Dharma Trading Co. the people are *so* sweet, the service is great, and you cannot beat the prices on their stuff. plus, you can get just about anything you could ever possibly want. (well, as far as fabric and dye ;)

Pro Chemical & Dye, Inc.
P.O. Box 14
Somerset, MA 02726, US
Phone: (800) 2-BUY-DYE or (508) 676-3838
Fax: (508) 676-3980
PRO-CHEMICAL@worldnet.att.net
Fabric dyes, paints, instruction books, kits, and other supplies. Does mail-order.

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