How to Turn a Lavender Sweater Pink

Turn a lavender sweater pink using fabric dye.

When you like the cut or shape of a sweater, but do not particularly like the color, you may think that you need to give the sweater away. However, you can dye the sweater to a color that you do prefer using fabric dye. For example, dye an unsightly lavender sweater to a pink color that will flatter your complexion. You can find all of the materials that you need to dye a sweater at any craft supply store.

Things You'll Need

• Large pot
• Liquid fabric dye, 16 oz.
• Salt
• Spoon
• Strainer
• Towel

Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with 2 gallons of water. Heat the pot over high heat until the water begins to boil, then turn the heat to low so that it can simmer.

2. Pour 16 oz. of liquid fabric dye into the pot of water. Select a shade of pink dye that contains more yellow pigment and less blue pigment. Yellow pigment will help transform lavender fabric, which is blue-based, into pink fabric.

3. Pour 1 cup of salt into the water, which will help the fabric dye adhere to the fibers in the sweater. Stir the mixture using a spoon for 2 minutes to combine the ingredients well.

4. Push the lavender sweater into the pink dye bath, and let the sweater simmer in the dye for 30 minutes.

5. Place the sweater into a strainer to drain out the excess dye water. Rinse the sweater under clear water for 15 minutes, squeezing out the sweater as you rinse. When no dye remains in the rinse water, squeeze out the sweater as much as possible.

6. Lay out the sweater flat onto a towel so that it can air-dry for 3 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Use wool or cotton sweaters in a dye bath. Nylon or polyester sweaters will not absorb fabric dye.

• Keep fabric dye and hot dye water out of the reach of children.

References

• RIT Dye: Color Formula Guide