Tie-dye black?

[Deja Q]

Hello. I recently bought a LOT of cotton/polyester blend shirts on clearance. They are solid colors.

I'd like to dye them black, but in such a way that their original color still comes through. Think of it as a 'tie-dye' appearance between the original color and black.

Can this be done?

Thx!

[jukes]

1. my experience w/ dyeing

doesn't include tie-dye. colored fabrics will not completely cover w/ritz type dyes, some orig w/ show through the spots. also, you're likely to get more of a deep purple effect rathen tham black.

there may be commercial-grade dyes that will do the job.


HTH.

EDIT: just reread. synths don't dye well, either.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Don't Use Rit. Use Procion M

That's the best dye for tie-dyeing.
A little salt will make it darker.

Cotton/Polyester blends won't get as dark anyway.
Depending on what the original color is, you may
want to use a darker one that harmonizes with it
or complements it.

The cotton will dye, the polyester won't, so you usually end up
with somewhat pastel stuff.

To dye polyester, you need industrial dyes that are not safe to
use at home.

Polyester bad. Cotton good. Silk fabulous!

[haele]

2. Several ways...

Except for stamping and batiking, I've found that it's generally good to work with damp fabric if you're going to dye; helps with the wicking process. Since they're cotton-poly mix shirts, the dye will need to be stronger than if it's simply cotton to take anyway. Just remember, the higher the poly mix, the harder it will be to set your dye.
method a)use a weak black dye mix and a paint brush over the wet tee. Let air dry first, then wash cold with iodinzed salt in the water to set, then dry in the dryer. Your new colors should be set.
method b) tried and true tye-dying. twist up the wet tee, use nylon or polyester cording to tye up into some sort of sausage shape, dip into the dye and remove. let dry, then follow the above washing method.
method c) Batik, baybee! use wax to paint a picture or design onto the fabric, or cut potato stamp designs. If using the wax, just dip tee into hot dye. If using a stamp, put a peice of cardboard between the back and front, "ink up" with fabric dye, and stamp away to your heart's content.

You'll just have to remember never to wash these shirts in hot water or with some sort of bleach afterwards. As I noted before, polyester does not tend to hold a dye application very well.

Haele

[Deja Q]

3. Thanks y'all!

I might try the other lavender shirt, but it sounds like it might not work. :-( Still, it's worth the try...

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. Go to a knowledgeable dry cleaner

and ask the people who work there, they'd be more likely to know more about this....

[undergroundpanther]

6. Use Setacolor

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2067-AA.shtml
Some of the fabric paints have no "feel" and behave like dyes.You can tye dye with paints.Often shirts with knockout tye dye colors that are poly cotton are done with these kinds of paints..

More things to check,
http://www.dharmatrading.com/info/
Instructions..
http://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes.html
Good luck!

U Panther.