If you have an old dress that you no longer wear, don't rush to part with it. With Rit dyes, you can give it a new life—and not just once! With the right technique, you can change its color over and over again, creating new shades based on the original color of the garment.
What You Need to Know About Rit DyeMore
Rit DyeMore is specifically designed for synthetic fibers. This means you can dye:
Polyesther, acrylic, acetate fabric
Mixed fabric, as long as the synthetic fiber percentage (e.g., polyester) exceeds 35%
Nylon items, such as swimsuits, buttons, 3D printed objects, sunglasses, and even golf balls!
Various plastics (e.g. LEGO)
If the fabric contains less than 35% synthetic material, use classic Rit All-Purpose Dye.
Important Guidelines Before You Start
Never dye fabrics labeled "dry clean only" or "wash only with cold water."
Always check the fabric label for fiber content.
Test on a small piece of fabric first before dyeing the entire item.
- Designs & Logos: Dyeing will also affect the fabric’s patterns. The final result depends on how colors mix. For example, if you dye a pink floral pattern with blue dye, the pink flowers will turn purple (since blue and pink combine to make purple), while the rest of the fabric will turn blue. Even if you dye a patterned garment with a dark color, you might find the color appears lighter in the patterned areas.
- If the item has stains (deodorant marks, sunexposure, chlorine): Try using Color Remover and White Wash.
How much dye will I need?
A general rule is:
One bottle of Rit DyeMore dyes approximately 900 grams of dry fabric.
For 100% polyester or for vibrant colors, double the amount of dye.
Now, let's go step by step to transform our dress!
Materials:
Dress made of at least 35% polyester or nylon
1 bottle of Rit DyeMore (250ml)
Large pot
Rubber gloves
Spoon or tongs
Kitchen thermometer (optional)
Water and detergent
Optional: Rit Color Remover for a cleaner base
Step-By-Step:
Clean the fabric – Wash the dress with detergent (without fabric softener) to remove any dust, oil, etc
Prepare the pot – Fill it with enough water to cover the fabric. Heat the water until it nearly reaches a boil (90–95°C). Wear gloves, as dye can also stain the skin!
Add the dye – Shake the bottle well and pour the entire amount into the water. For a more vibrant color, add one tablespoon of liquid dish soap as well.
Add the dress – Submerge the dress into the dye bath and stir continuously for 30 minutes to ensure even coloring.
Rinse and dry – Rinse the dress with lukewarm to cold water until the water runs clear. Wash it separately in the washing machine. Let it dry in the shade.
Tired of it already? Let's change its color again! But what does it mean to dye over an already dyed garment?
When you dye a fabric that already has color, the final result is a blend of the old and new colors!
Let's say you have a white or light-colored dress. With the Overdyeing method, you can dye it a new color without completely removing the previous dye. You can create stunning shades simply by choosing the right combination. For example:
- Dyeing a pink dress with blue dye results in: purple!
- Dyeing a beige fabric with burgundy dye results in: brown!
- Dyeing a gray object with black dye results in: a deep charcoal shade!
Your imagination is the only limit!
Using the same approach, you can create your own custom shades! Rit offers dozens of color recipes on its website to help you craft new hues by combining existing colors.
Here are some of the most popular ones using DyeMore:
- Dusty Rose: Super Pink + Cocoa Brown in a 2:1 ratio
- Sage Green: Peacock Green + Frost Grey in a 3:1 ratio
- Denim Blue: Sapphire Blue + Black in a 2:1 ratio
- Burnt Orange: Racing Red + Apricot Orange in a 3:1 ratio
- Plum: Royal Purple + Super Pink in a 2:1 ratio
Tip: Always try the formulas on a small fabric swatch first before dyeing the entire garment.
As you can see, Rit Dye is more than just a dye – it's a tool for imagination and creativity. Try changing the color of a garment, experimenting with overdyeing, or transforming a simple object. All you need is a little creativity, proper preparation, and… a pot!
That’s all for this week.
Until next time,
Artistic kisses!
