Bleaching dark fabric

Razia · 11-28-2006, 09:06 PM

Okay, here's the thing--I've been looking all over for a tan sweater for a certain costume idea. I found something on ebay that's exactly what I'm looking for, as far as style is concerned, but it's a darkish grey color. According to the seller, it's %100 cotton. My tentative plan is to go ahead and buy it, then bleach it then dye it the correct color.

Now ... I've never actually tried bleaching anything, so how well do you think it'll work? Think I'll end up with grey seams or anything, or is it likely that the color won't come out enough?

Any advice would be helpful.

Meiki · 11-30-2006, 01:29 PM

Sorry, but it probably won't work. Bleaching anything black will make things turn an number of colors, I've had things turn blue, pink and orange, and thankfully I was doing that on purpose. You could try and bleach it to a point where it would be very light, but it would most likely start to get holes eaten in it by the bleach.

Elendriel · 11-30-2006, 01:33 PM

Even though it's 100% cotton, it won't bleach very well. It'll lighten the colour and like Meiki said, it might even turn it a funky shade of some colour you definitely don't want it to change

It's also really hard on the fabric and so it'd lose its quality from repeated bleachings

CosplayerGabi · 12-08-2006, 07:29 PM

Agreed, it is very hard to turn a dark fabric light.

The ONLY safe alternative is using something called "color remover" RIT.
It was designed to take the dye out of something if you washed a red sock with white clothing. Wven so it turns things an odd color first and then when you rinse it you see the final color.

I dyed something too dark a brown and put it in the color remover. It turned it russet red and when I rinsed it it turned light brown.

AJREDDSON · 12-08-2006, 08:14 PM

¿What about bleaching it, then dying it the right color?

CosplayerGabi · 12-08-2006, 10:45 PM

The problem with bleach it that it weakens the fabric. It will weaken fabric. It can eat your fabric and cause holes. It is too hard on the fabric to go from dark to light because of the time it has to spend in the bleach to get light. By that time it dissolves the fabric fibers and the fabric falls apart.

You should try an experiment. Cut out a 5x5 inch square of fabric, any color, and put it in a dish of bleach. Come back every hour and then leave it overnight and see what happens. Cottons, satin, synthetics all react differently.

Razia · 12-08-2006, 11:13 PM

Well, it's kind of moot now--the sweater was only a couple dollars on ebay, then it jumped up to $15 (not including the shipping) so I said "screw it" especially since it was the wrong color to begin with =P

Thanks for the info anyway, to those who contributed. I'll keep it in mind if the situation comes up again.

AJREDDSON · 12-09-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosplayerGabi

The problem with bleach it that it weakens the fabric. It will weaken fabric. It can eat your fabric and cause holes. It is too hard on the fabric to go from dark to light because of the time it has to spend in the bleach to get light. By that time it dissolves the fabric fibers and the fabric falls apart.

I didn’t mean bleaching it THAT far. That would be silly.

Satine · 12-11-2006, 02:47 AM

Bleach when used carefully and constantly checked will be fine on cotton fabrics* and dye removers don't always take out all the colour (especially blue based colours.) So it's 6 of one half dozen of the other!

When decolouring a made garment though and the colour removal system does work you still need to be wary of what is used to sew the seams. If it's a sweatshirt it's likely to be overlocked (serged) and the thread more than likely a polyester which uses different dyes to cotton and so won't decolour the same way.

Better to start from scratch

*NEVER on a protein fibre it will dissolve in a matter of minutes.

Kukkii-san · 12-11-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satine

*NEVER on a protein fibre it will dissolve in a matter of minutes.

*lol* i found out the hard way when i tried to reverse a dying experiment on silk ^^; fortunately, it was only a scrap of fabric anyway.

yeah the polyester thread is what i would've pointed out as well. i sometimes make garments myself that i will dye later, but i always use cotton thread (or polyester thread in the color i want it to be when dyed).

11-28-2006, 09:06 PM	#1
Razia whistles Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 531	Bleaching dark fabric Okay, here's the thing--I've been looking all over for a tan sweater for a certain costume idea. I found something on ebay that's exactly what I'm looking for, as far as style is concerned, but it's a darkish grey color. According to the seller, it's %100 cotton. My tentative plan is to go ahead and buy it, then bleach it then dye it the correct color. Now ... I've never actually tried bleaching anything, so how well do you think it'll work? Think I'll end up with grey seams or anything, or is it likely that the color won't come out enough? Any advice would be helpful. __________________ Phase 1: 21 Sacraments Phase 2: ? Phase 3: PROFIT! Planned costumes for MAGfest, 2008: Elena/Reno (with the b/f) Walter Sullivan (from Silent Hill 4) Costumes I'll hopefully get around to some day, but God only knows when: Sephiroth Dawn Edea Milla/Sasha (with the b/f--from Psychonauts) Sally (from Nightmare Before Christmas) (subject to change ... repeatedly =P)

11-30-2006, 01:33 PM	#3
Elendriel God of Mischief Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,481	Even though it's 100% cotton, it won't bleach very well. It'll lighten the colour and like Meiki said, it might even turn it a funky shade of some colour you definitely don't want it to change It's also really hard on the fabric and so it'd lose its quality from repeated bleachings __________________ Up and coming! Seishucon:Korra, Loki, Sam Winchester, Cato Planned cons for 12 WW Chicago, TVD NJ, Dragon*Con, AWA, NYCC, Chicago TARDIS, Youmacon, TVD Orlando

12-08-2006, 07:29 PM	#4
CosplayerGabi Shotgun Badass Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 749	Agreed, it is very hard to turn a dark fabric light. The ONLY safe alternative is using something called "color remover" RIT. It was designed to take the dye out of something if you washed a red sock with white clothing. Wven so it turns things an odd color first and then when you rinse it you see the final color. I dyed something too dark a brown and put it in the color remover. It turned it russet red and when I rinsed it it turned light brown. __________________ Do the job, till it's done Sir

12-08-2006, 10:45 PM	#6
CosplayerGabi Shotgun Badass Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 749	The problem with bleach it that it weakens the fabric. It will weaken fabric. It can eat your fabric and cause holes. It is too hard on the fabric to go from dark to light because of the time it has to spend in the bleach to get light. By that time it dissolves the fabric fibers and the fabric falls apart. You should try an experiment. Cut out a 5x5 inch square of fabric, any color, and put it in a dish of bleach. Come back every hour and then leave it overnight and see what happens. Cottons, satin, synthetics all react differently. __________________ Do the job, till it's done Sir

12-08-2006, 11:13 PM	#7
Razia whistles Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 531	Well, it's kind of moot now--the sweater was only a couple dollars on ebay, then it jumped up to $15 (not including the shipping) so I said "screw it" especially since it was the wrong color to begin with =P Thanks for the info anyway, to those who contributed. I'll keep it in mind if the situation comes up again. __________________ Phase 1: 21 Sacraments Phase 2: ? Phase 3: PROFIT! Planned costumes for MAGfest, 2008: Elena/Reno (with the b/f) Walter Sullivan (from Silent Hill 4) Costumes I'll hopefully get around to some day, but God only knows when: Sephiroth Dawn Edea Milla/Sasha (with the b/f--from Psychonauts) Sally (from Nightmare Before Christmas) (subject to change ... repeatedly =P)

11-30-2006, 01:29 PM	#2
Meiki Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,300	Sorry, but it probably won't work. Bleaching anything black will make things turn an number of colors, I've had things turn blue, pink and orange, and thankfully I was doing that on purpose. You could try and bleach it to a point where it would be very light, but it would most likely start to get holes eaten in it by the bleach.

12-08-2006, 08:14 PM	#5
AJREDDSON Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 412	¿What about bleaching it, then dying it the right color?

12-11-2006, 02:47 AM	#9
Satine Frock Chick Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 872	Bleach when used carefully and constantly checked will be fine on cotton fabrics* and dye removers don't always take out all the colour (especially blue based colours.) So it's 6 of one half dozen of the other! When decolouring a made garment though and the colour removal system does work you still need to be wary of what is used to sew the seams. If it's a sweatshirt it's likely to be overlocked (serged) and the thread more than likely a polyester which uses different dyes to cotton and so won't decolour the same way. Better to start from scratch *NEVER on a protein fibre it will dissolve in a matter of minutes. __________________ costumes \|\| moulin rouge costume resources \|\| phantom costume resources \|\| performing cv

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