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[KnuxieChan]

I was wondering.. what would be the safest and most effective way to dye 100% polyester? I want to dye my Kevin Mask trench coat a darker blue, but I don't want to ruin it. (I paid $130 for it, but they made it with such a light blue fabric.. argh.)

I know dyes don't stick to polyester very well.. I tried coloring part of it with a prisma marker and it seemed to be okay.. a little blotchy though.

What should I do? x_x

[Metanoia]

First you should always always test dye a little bit first. Some synthetic materials take ok, and some do not. I would suggest that if you can cut a little bit from a hem or seam, do that and see if it will take the dye. Get your dye and mix it as the instructions say with the test bit just like if you were dying the whole lot.

Idea two is to go to a dry cleaner or professional and ask if they have a dying service. Some do, and they may have some of the stronger dyes that will take to polyester.

If either of them don't work I'd almost say you need to make it again. Thats the problem with synthetics I guess... in addition to the fact they don't breath

[Melanie]

Will not happen. If it was a polyester blend, you would get a very faint result, but since it's 100%, please please please don't even bother trying to dye it with commercial fabric dye.

Staining it with ink is probably the best of a bad lot of options, but an even colour is not guaranteed - and I wouldn't recommend it on an expensive coat.

[starcat]

Sadly, the thread from a few months ago is gone already...

There IS a special dye for polyester out there, but it's expensive and hard to use. This site has a good guide.

Note, though, in one of the first paragraphs:
"Immersion dyeing with polyester is not a job for beginners; it is both more difficult and more dangerous than immersion dyeing cotton or wool. "

If you feel you're up to the challenge, go for it, but make sure you read up on it first. :/

Metanoia has a good idea with #2, though I guess it depends on where you live.

[ButterflyPanic]

Well, I have dyed %100 polyester in the past with regular dye (last week),
but it is a real pain and pretty time consuming.

How to:
- Use "Rit" dye or other fabric dye (cannot remember name of the one I use)
- Make a very dye heavy dye bath
- Let fabric soke over night
- Wash out dye
- Repeat for darker color

Pros:
- You get a color

Cons:
- Unless you are going for a very small step up in color, this is not a method
that will be very beneficial. For instance, I dyed white around 4 time to get
a light Robins Egg Blue. Each time I dyed it it got a bit darker, but again, it
only works for small increments of color.
- Splotching may occur.

[SkippingSith]

Dyeing polyester? Not gonna happen without special dye. Natural materials take dye best (cotton, linen, etc), but anything with a high polyester content is a crapshoot.

[KnuxieChan]

I think I'll try the dry cleaner idea first. x__x;; *siiigh* I wish they hadn't made the coat polyester..

[Eleryth]

Originally Posted by Shippo87

I think I'll try the dry cleaner idea first. x__x;; *siiigh* I wish they hadn't made the coat polyester..

If it was a commission, material choice is something that should be discussed between the buyer and commissioner to ensure you're getting the material and color you want (they should send either a small sample of fabric, or photos of it with flash and without, natural light, etc). If not, at least it's something to keep in mind for future commissions, I guess.


Good luck!

[CienDragon]

This is a dye specifically made for polyester and other synthetic fibers. If you decide to use it make sure to read all the product instructions carefully and take any necessary saftey precautions(I haven't used it personally but I've heard the stuff is difficult to work with).

[KnuxieChan]

Originally Posted by Eleryth

If it was a commission, material choice is something that should be discussed between the buyer and commissioner to ensure you're getting the material and color you want (they should send either a small sample of fabric, or photos of it with flash and without, natural light, etc). If not, at least it's something to keep in mind for future commissions, I guess.


Good luck!

Well, like an idiot, I said any material is fine. I told them DARK blue though and gave them plenty of pictures, and they made it regular blue.

See how dark it is?
This is what I got.

*siiigh* XD; I wish I coulda made the coat myself.. but I'm not that good. I'm kind of afraid to dye it myself with those expensive dyes..