How to Dye Leotards

Hand dyeing your leotard gives you control over the final color.

Leotards are used for many outfits, typically in costumes or performance wear for dancers and gymnasts. Dye your leotard to the specific color needed to match the rest of your outfit. Hand dyeing allows you to have control over the final color. However, leotards are typically made of nylon/spandex or cotton/spandex blends. Dyeing these blends can seem daunting, but the process is quite simple if you know what technique to use.

Things You'll Need

• Acid fabric dye
• Stainless steel pot
• Cooking thermometer
• Vinegar (1/4 cup per lb. of fabric)
• Rubber gloves
• Dishwashing liquid
• Cold-water fabric dye
• Dust mask
• Soda ash (sodium carbonate)
• Large bucket or container

Instructions

Nylon Blends

1. Use an acid dye for nylon. Check the care label on the leotard to determine the highest water temperature recommended for washing. Nylon leotards are generally blended with spandex, which cannot tolerate extreme heat. (Your label may say "Lycra;" this is a brand name of spandex.)

2. Heat a stainless steel pot of water on the stove. Use just enough water to cover the leotard, while allowing it to move freely in the pot. The pot you use should not be used for food preparation after it has been used for dyeing. Use an old pot or purchase one at a garage sale or thrift shop.

3. Place your cooking thermometer into the pot and begin to monitor the water temperature. Pour the dye into the pot and heat the water to the highest temperature recommended on the garment care tag. If you have a recipe to produce a particular color, follow the amounts indicated. Use approximately 3 percent of the weight of your fabric in dye. For example, for a leotard weighing 8 oz., use 1/4 oz. of dye.

4. Stir vinegar into the dye pot. Use 1/4 cup of vinegar per 1 lb. of fabric. Leave the leotard to soak in the dye at the high temperature for about 30 minutes, stirring often. Put on rubber gloves and remove the leotard. Rinse it out completely, using warm water.

5. Machine wash the leotard with 1 tsp. of liquid dishwashing soap per 1/2 lb. of fabric.

Cotton Blends

1. Use a cold-water (fiber reactive) dye. Leotards made of cotton are typically blended with spandex. However, the elasticized fabric is only a small percentage of the total fabric and is concealed by the cotton. Dye the fabric as you would cotton.

2. Machine wash the leotard, but do not dry it. The material should be damp.

3. Wear rubber gloves and dust mask. Mix 1 cup of soda ash into 1 gallon of water. Stir to dissolve. Soak the leotard in this solution for a minimum of 30 minutes.

4. Stir the dye into a small amount of room-temperature water to dissolve it. If you are using a recipe for a certain color, follow those instructions. A general guideline is 1 tbsp. of dye to 1 lb. of fabric.

5. Place the leotard into a clean bucket or container and add enough room-temperature water to just cover it and allow it to move freely. Pour the dye mixture into the bucket and stir to combine with the water. Leave the leotard to soak for 3 hours, longer for very dark colors, such as black or navy.

6. Remove the leotard and rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. Machine wash the leotard with about 1 tsp. of liquid dishwashing soap per 1/2 lb. of fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the leotard care tags to see whether the fabric has been treated with a stain-resistant coating. If so, this may prevent dyes from working adequately.

• Spandex/polyester blends cannot be dyed. The polyester requires a very high temperature to absorb the color, and the heat will ruin the spandex.

• Wear old clothing, a smock or apron when dyeing to protect your clothing against splatters.

• Wear a dust mask when handling soda ash, as it can be hazardous when inhaled.

References

• Dharma Trading Company: Tub Dyeing Basics with Fiber Reactive Dyes
• Paula Burch's All About Hand Dyeing: How to Dye Spandex