How to Dye a Shirt Purple

Update a wardrobe by giving dull and dingy shirts and blouses a boost with fabric dye. Purple can revitalizes an outfit for any season. Prepackaged purple dye can be used on the stove top to dye a shirt in several hours. Try this easy method to bring color back to a wardrobe in less than a day. Choose from several standard purple shades or create a custom color to match other items in a wardrobe.

Things You'll Need

• Cooking thermometer
• RIT dye
• Stock pot
• Rubber gloves
• Spoon or spatula for stirring
• Mild detergent
• Measuring cup
• Sink
• Bleach-based cleanser

Instructions

Preparation

1. Identify the fabric content of the shirt. Only attempt to dye a shirt that is 100 percent cotton, silk, linen, ramie, wool or a blend that contains at least 60 percent of any one of these. Rayon, acetate and nylon can also be successfully dyed. Blends will not accept a deep purple color but will be a tint. If in doubt about fabric content, create a test swatch by dyeing a small, hidden area of the shirt first.

2. Purchase the appropriate amount of prepackaged fabric dye, such as purple RIT dye. Read the instructions to figure out the appropriate amount to use.

   For example, three yards of fabric (a length of 9-feet of fabric) require a single box of dry RIT dye or a half bottle of liquid RIT. Dark colored fabrics, like navy, black, dark green, brown or dark red, will require double the amount of dye to purple color---purchase. Use RIT's custom color recipes to create a special shade.

3. Wash and dry the shirt to remove stains and dirt. Fabric softeners for the washer and dryer will leave a film or residue on the shirt that may interfere with the dyeing process---do not use them when preparing the shirt to accept dye.

4. Choose a pot in which to dye the shirt. Designate this pot for dyeing and do not use it for cooking or other purposes after using it for dye your shirt. Stock pots or soup pots are ideal.

Dye The Shirt

1. Pre-dissolve the dye by placing pouring two cups of hot water into the pot and dumping the dye in with the hot water. Stir to mix using a spoon or other stirring device. Hot water from the tap will work just fine. Add three gallons of warm water to the dissolved dye and stir.

2. Wet the shirt in hot tap water. Place it in a bowl or clean sink or hold it in gloved hands to accomplish this. Squeeze it to remove excess water and then lightly shake the shirt out to release the wrinkles and crumpling from squeezing. Place the shirt in the dye bath.

3. Heat the dye bath to a simmer (not boiling) by placing the pot on a low heat setting. Stir the pot consistently for 30 minutes. Use a cooking thermometer to achieve a steady 140-degree Fahrenheit water temperature. RIT recommends this temperature setting to achieve a deep color.

4. Remove the dye pot from the stove. Dump the dye water out but keep the shirt in the pot.

5. Using warm tap water begin rinsing the excess dye from the shirt. As the water begins to become more clear, adjust the tap water to cool and continue rinsing until the water being released from the shirt is clear.

6. Wash the item by hand in warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse it in cool water. Dry in the dryer.

7. Wash all utensils using chlorine-based cleaners (gel, liquid or powder) to remove any dye residue.

Tips & Warnings

• Cotton, ramie, rayon and linen fabrics will produce better color from adding one cup of table salt to the dye bath before placing the shirt into the bath.

• The garment can stay in the the dye bath for up to an hour to achieve a darker purple as long as the water remains hot. Constant agitation is required during the full time the shirt is in the dye bath.

• Fabric appears darker when wet.

References

• RIT Stove Top Dyeing Technique

Resources

• Create Custom RIT Colors