How Do I Dye a Sweater?
Changing the color of a sweater is an easy fix using fabric dye. The best sweaters to dye are cotton, wool or ramie. A light-colored sweater will dye easier than a dark-colored one. If the sweater that you want to dye is more than 60 percent polyester, you may have trouble getting the desired results, as fabric dye doesn't adhere well to polyester. You can dye a sweater in the washer if it's a washable sweater, but dying it in a large sink or tub will reduce the risk of misshaping a delicate sweater. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bucket (or sink)
- Powdered or liquid clothing dye
- Long-handled spoon
- Mild detergent
- Towel or sweater drying rack
- Bleach
Instructions
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1
Fill a plastic bucket or sink with three gallons of hot water. The fabric should be able to move around freely in the bucket. Use three gallons of hot water for every pound of fabric, so an average size sweater should need three gallons of hot water.
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2
Remove two cups of water from the bucket and place it in a large bowl. Mix one package of clothing dye powder or half a bottle of dye liquid. Mix it around with a spoon until it's fully dissolved and pour this water into the bucket.
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3
Wet the sweater in hot water in a sink or tub. Remove it from the tub, squeeze out the excess water and place it in the dye water. Swirl it around so that it's not crumpled up.
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4
Stir the sweater around in the dye with a long-handled spoon or paint stick for 30 minutes. The sweater should constantly move.
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Remove the sweater from the dye and rinse it in running hot water in a sink or tub. Gradually turn the running water colder and continue rinsing until the water is clear, which indicates that all of the excess dye has been removed.
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Wash the sweater in warm water with a mild detergent. Rinse it in cold water. Dry it on a flat surface, such as a towel or on a sweater drying rack placed over the tub.
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7
Clean everything that you used--sink, bucket, tub, spoon--with chlorine bleach to remove all traces of the dye product.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a washing machine if you don't want to agitate the sweater for 30 minutes.
Avoid dying fabrics with a care tag that says "Dry Clean Only."
Fabric dye will stain a fiberglass sink.
