How to Dye Fabrics—It's Easy With Our Tips, Tricks, and How-Tos

Dying fabric is easier than you think. Here's everything you need to know to get the colors you want.

By

Updated on September 26, 2023

Dyed fabric — Photo:
oxygen / GETTY IMAGES

We all have a garment or item that we love everything about—except for its color. Maybe your pink era is over, or you've come across the perfect item at the flea market, but that yellow just won't do. Fret not, there's hope! Dyeing fabric is a great way to bring that "pretty good" item one step closer to perfect.

Dyeing is as much an art as a science, so don't hesitate to experiment. For example, we like combining liquid dyes to come up with custom colors. You can also try submerging different sections for varying amounts of time for a watercolor or ombre look.

Some things to note before you get started: natural fibers—such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool—take dye much better than synthetics do (unless you're using a dye formulated especially for synthetics). And, you never know exactly how a material will take a color. A white napkin and an off-white napkin may not come out looking the same. Trim and stitching can take color differently than the base fabric does since they may be made of different materials. And while dyeing is a great way to revive old, faded fabrics, it won't remove or even necessarily cover stains.

You also don't have to start with white fabric—if you want to reinvent a colored item, try a color remover (similar to bleach, but non-damaging) before dyeing. This will whiten or lighten the fabric so it can take on a new color.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Drop cloth
Large bucket or bin
Rubber gloves
Stainless steel spoon

Materials

Liquid dye
Salt (for cotton or linen)
White vinegar (for wool or silk)

Instructions

Prepare your work station

First, wash your fabric item if it's new. Then, cover the work surface with a drop cloth. Fill a bucket, bin, or stainless steel sink (large enough to hold the fabric loosely) about halfway with very hot tap water or boiling water. (For wool, water should be warm, not hot.)
Mix colors

Wearing rubber gloves, add liquid dye, and mix colors as desired. Add salt if dyeing cotton or linen or white vinegar for wool or silk; the amount will depend on the size of the dye bath. We used ¼ cup of either salt or vinegar for a bath of about 1 gallon, ½ cup for 2 gallons, and 1 cup for 3 or more gallons. (These additions help the fabric take the dye.)
Thoroughly wet fabric and immerse in dye bath

You can run large pieces through the washing machine's rinse cycle to wet them evenly. With a stainless steel spoon (or a wooden spoon reserved only for dyeing), move the fabric around in water to avoid uneven dyeing. Keep the item in the dye for 5 to 15 minutes, stirring the whole time. Allow fabric to get a little darker than you want it, as it will fade slightly with rinsing and drying.
Remove fabric from dye

Carefully remove fabric from dye and rinse in running water, starting with warm water and then making it cooler, until it runs clear. (You can also rinse the fabric in the washing machine's rinse cycle.) Wash out bucket, bin, or sink immediately.
Wash your items

Wash item with mild detergent on the cold cycle, then dry.

How to Mix Dye Colors

Below are formulas for the colors shown above, each using 1 quart of water and the specified amounts of Rit liquid dyes.

A, G. 1 teaspoon Fuchsia

B. 1 tablespoon Golden Yellow + 1 teaspoon Tan + ½ teaspoon Kelly Green

C. 1 tablespoon Scarlet + 2 teaspoons Petal Pink + ½ teaspoon Taupe

D. 2 teaspoons Petal Pink + ½ teaspoon Cocoa

E. 6 teaspoons Dark Green + 2 teaspoons Teal

F. 3 teaspoons Teal + 2 teaspoons Taupe

To scale up the dye-bath size, use more water, but don't increase dye amounts in the same proportions. For instance, the dark-green bedding uses formula E; we made a bath with about 30 gallons of water, 12 tablespoons of Dark Green dye, and 4 tablespoons of Teal dye. Generally, start with less dye, test on a paper towel, and add more as needed.

Tips and Tricks for Dying Fabric

Make a small dye bath first

When coming up with your own shades, get the look you want without wasting dye by making a small dye bath first. Add the dyes to hot water in a large glass measuring cup, noting how much color you're adding. Test the color with a paper towel. When you have the hue you want, make the bath in a larger amount.

Use large bins in a bathtub for bedding and tablecloths

When dyeing bedding and tablecloths, we used a large plastic bin set in a bathtub (to catch any drips) and brought in pots of water heated on the stove. It's especially important to keep the fabric moving while it sits in the dye bath; use a long spoon to carefully stir, lift, and redistribute it constantly. When the items reached the desired color, we lifted them out and placed them in another empty bin to take them to the washing machine, where we rinsed them on the rinse cycle.

Wash dyed items alone

The first several times you wash dyed items, wash them alone to prevent bleeding or add an old white washcloth or sock to see if the dye runs. Over time and with repeat washings, the color of the dye may fade—but remember, you can always dye them again.