Dyeing

FAQs

Q: Does Creative Fibers provide a dyeing service?
A: No. Look in the yellow pages under "dyers" for local dye services.

Q: Can I dye a polyester garment?
A: Not with the dyes available at Creative Fibers.

Q: Can I dye a cotton/polyester blend fabric?
A: Yes, with Procion MX dyes, but the polyester part of the fabric will not take dye and you will get a much lighter, "heathered" effect.

Q: Can I cover bleach spots with dye?
A: First of all, bleach will damage fiber, so wash the garment to see if the bleach has eaten through the fabric. If the fabric is still intact, you could dye the garment, but the bleach spots would still be a lighter color than the surrounding fabric.

Q: Can I cover stains with dye?
A: By dyeing a darker color, the stains may be less noticeable, but the stained areas will still be darker than the surrounding fabric.

Q: Can I dye my furniture?
A: Only if you can remove the fabric cover and fit it into a container and the fabric is a natural fiber.

Q: Can I dye my wool sweater without shrinkage?
A: Yes, with Cushing dyes. Just make sure you do not BOIL the garment and do NOT agitate the garment while it is in the dye pot.

Q: How much dye do I need?
A: The amount of dye depends on the dry weight of the fabric and the intensity of the color. You will need to weigh the fabric to determine the amount of dye. Generally, a small jar of Procion MX or a package of Cushing dye will dye one pound of fiber to a medium shade. Deeper shades require more dye. Blacks may require twice the amount of dye.

Q: Tie Dye: how much dye and chemicals do I need?
A: For 50 medium-size adult t-shirts you will need:
8 ounces of dye (total of all colors used)
10 pounds of soda ash
1 pound of urea