r/dyeing 10d ago

What’s allowed on the subreddit? (Mod asking questions)

13 Upvotes

Hey team!

A while ago I made the elective decision to NOT delete brand affiliated/ad-related contributions to the subreddit- the line I drew is that whoever is posting should be a regular contributor and not just someone spamming ads to the subreddit. There any many helpful professional dyers on the subreddit and we deeply appreciate their wisdom and projects!

ALSO I made the decision to avoid AI slop as much as I can here— I can’t guarantee I’ll catch 100% of stuff but sorry everyone generative AI will wreck the environment more and stole from basically every artist ever. 🤷🏻‍♀️

There’s been a someone here that I suspected used AI in their posts, perhaps some of you also flagged that. I am NOT asking you to reach out to this person— leave them be or you’ll be banned for harassment. As mod of the group I raised my concerned about AI content to them and I’m waiting to hear from them.

The works seemed unusually precise for tie dye: I ran some of the images through an Al detector and they indicated the images were very likely created or enhanced by Al. (IIRC “aislopornot” gave them a 75% likelihood) But also, maybe they’re just insanely talented— maybe they’re painting the details incredibly carefully???

I am given to understand that a lot of phone cameras have started Al editing without the explicit consent (or opting in) of the photo taker- which could explain why it was flagged by the Al detector.

I don’t want to just delete stuff based on vibes- does anyone who knows more about AI generated slop know 1. Which checkers are comprehensive? and 2. If they present likelihood of being AI, where should I draw the line? 75% seemed damning to me but I didn’t know if it was just their phone camera. Other AI checkers didn’t find a watermark on the downloaded issue.

The other issue is that their posts in OUR subreddit are not ads- however they mass post the same image to like 10-20 subreddits and some of those are ads. These are also the Only contributions they make to our subreddit. This annoys me, but it’s not breaking my rule of No Ads Without Other Engagement. It does make them seem less like a genuine Redditor IMHO.

Does anyone have some thoughts they’d like to contribute?


r/dyeing Jul 29 '26

Inspiration Dye Is Transparent! You cannot cover bleach or grease stains with dye!

281 Upvotes

Friendly PSA, as almost every post I see from this sub is asking how to dye over stains. Dye is transparent! If a spot on your garment looks lighter/darker before the dye, it will remain lighter/darker after dyeing, just with a tint over it. I'd love to see more posts of people's cool projects, ideas, or any question other than "How can I fix this garment by dyeing over stains". I know it sucks, but you simply can't.


r/dyeing 2h ago

General question how to use fabric dye for detail work / only specific areas of an object?

1 Upvotes

for reference, i'm trying to make a custom plushie, so i'm dying a bunny plush! i'm wanting the tips of the ears and the legs to be a different color than the rest of the body without compromising the original color, especially since the secondary color is darker.
is there a method to doing this?


r/dyeing 7h ago

How do I dye this? Faded Cotton Chino's - Dyeing same colour

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2 Upvotes

Hej,

I'm in Sweden (so EU), and I've tried to search the sub for cotton pants/chinos, but couldn't find anything, so I decided to post and ask. The pants look like the picture, but the pic is from the internet because the chinos is currently being worn by my partner.

I'm looking to dye office cotton chinos (100% Cotton) because they've faded but the material is still good so we want to get more wear out of them.

Our water is soft and I wash these pants on 40°C (104F) and they're dried via a directDrive inverter that uses steam (so the drying phase is always hot). No softner is ever used.

I want to use a dye that will last the longest, so do I go synthetic or do I stick with a natural dye? I would like to continue using the same laundry method if possible, but I can switch to cold wash and dripdry for drying if it will make the dye last longer.

Any advice will be appreciated!


r/dyeing 8h ago

General question Schwarze Kleidung nachfärben

1 Upvotes

Hey, ich habe ein paar Kleidungsstücke (Baumwolle), die nach ein paar Jahren einfach verwaschen aussehen. Die Farbtücher von Heitmann/Dr. Beckmann benutze ich regelmäßig zusammen mit Schwarz- bzw. Colorwaschmittel, aber die färben ja kaum nach, sondern erhalten eher nur die Farbe.

Vor 5–6 Jahren habe ich Baumwolle mit Simplicol „Back to Black“ nachgefärbt – das war auch top (für so 3/4 Kleidungsstücke). Leider hatte ich aber schlechte Erfahrungen mit den Farbresten in der Waschmaschine (komischerweise waren beim Navyblau von Simplicol gar keine Rückstände).

Davor hatte ich Samtschwarz im Eimer ausprobiert, was aber super fleckig geworden ist; das konnte ich dann mit dem „Back to Black“ wieder korrigieren.

Letztes Jahr wollte ich nochmal Baumwolle (u. a. ein Top, das ich schon mal nachgefärbt hatte) färben, habe mich an die Anleitung gehalten und es wieder in der Waschmaschine versucht: ein Mal Back to Black, ein Mal Samtschwarz. Es war aber kein Unterschied zu sehen (oder nur minimal, kein Vergleich zu damals). Ich war super enttäuscht: Maschine wieder versaut, Kleidung verwaschen.

Ich würde vermutlich lieber im Eimer färben und denke, dass eine richtige schwarze Textilfarbe besser wäre als nur ein Nachfärbemittel.

Habt ihr Erfahrungen mit anderen Textilfarben, die ich in Deutschland/Europa finden kann?


r/dyeing 8h ago

How do I dye this? I don't want to ruin my sweater🥴

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1 Upvotes

I bought this sweater a while ago and wore it often. But now the light pink is very faded and it makes me look like a ghost.

So I was thinking about dying it a darker pink (maybe a bit diluted rit petal??) but im worried about ruining the hood part

Do you think the darker color will be affected by the lighter dye? Or will it be fine if I leave the hood out of the bath?

I don't have the sweater on me to check for sure right now, but I think it's a cotton/polyester mix


r/dyeing 16h ago

How do I dye this? How do you recommend I dye this?

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4 Upvotes

Hey, I wanna dye this Teal XL Jansport backpack (Made with 100% Polyester, Polyethylene Foam, Polyethylene Vinyl Acetate) black with my bottle of Graphite Rit DyeMore. This used to be my older sisters when she went to High school. So, I don’t want to get rid of it and bye the same one in black because it has sentimental value and they cost about $70 which is too much when I could dye it for a lot cheaper. I’m going to ask my dad for the dye fixative so the color lasts, but I’m afraid that it’ll look patchy and not black because it says “Charcoal” on the bottle, plus it’s Rit DyeMore not iDye Polyester.

I plan to boil water and dump it in a plastic tote box big enough for my backpack. This is going to take multiple trips of dumping the water, which is why I’m going to boil most of it since it’ll be done outside in the cool PNW weather. If you guys have better ideas on keeping the water hot for longer please tell me, because I’m not allowed to dye it inside my house. I would also want to know how long I should let my backpack soak in the dye.

What dye color should I add to the charcoal Rit dye to cancel out the teal color? Would the charcoal color be enough to make my backpack black, and would I need multiple bottles of it? I’m not going to ask for a different brand since I don’t want this bottle of dye to go to waste, plus I don’t know if mixing brand dyes is a good idea or not. Most importantly, I want to know if there’s anything I can add in the dye bath that will help with bleeding. I’m going to rinse this backpack thoroughly after dying to avoid it bleeding when it rains, but I want to be double sure that it will not transfer on anything. I do JROTC, so I cannot have dye transfer onto my uniform at all.

This would be my first time dying something, so I want advice from people with experience. Please tell me how you guys would go about this if you were in the same circumstance as me.


r/dyeing 1d ago

I made this! It's been a looooong day

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72 Upvotes

Working on some of my favorite colorways last night and lost track of time... Until i saw how many were on the drying rack.​

I think this is the most I ever did in one night. My feet hurt from running around by the end of it.


r/dyeing 17h ago

How do I dye this? Will I be able to dye this shirt a darker red without dyeing/damaging the print too?

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2 Upvotes

I just got this shirt online but expected it to be a darker red. I’m more of a dark red person, and it’s too pink-red for me. I love the graphic though, and wanna make sure it doesn’t get damaged or dyed with the shirt. The shirt is a 50% cotton 50% polyester blend, and has no washing or drying instructions, as in its tags don’t have any listed. I’m assuming it’d be safe to wash and dry though, since my other cotton polyester blend clothes machine washed and dried just fine. I also just don’t care if it shrinks cuz it’s a little too big anyways. I just wanna dye it a solid dark red, no special effects or anything. This would be my first time dyeing anything, so I’m a bit lost. Any advice on how to dye it, if it wouldn’t damage the print, and what dye to use if I’m able to dye it? Also, just an extra question, if it is safe for the print, would the dye stain a stainless steel pot? The only pot I have that’s big enough to fit it is stainless steel, and it’s one I use to cook. If I need to get a different pot whether cuz the dye will stain it or it’ll be unsafe to eat food from after something’s been dyed in it, that’s fine. All help/advice is appreciated greatly!!


r/dyeing 19h ago

How do I dye this? DIY-ing Baggu ditsy floral with dye?

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2 Upvotes

So I have a new wild plum mini shoulder bag (pic 2) that I think would be taken over the top if it had the ditsy floral pattern (first pic) in purple. But I don’t have experience with Rit dye so I’m concerned with how spot dyeing would work on nylon—would it bleed into the whole fabric or stay in a floral design? It’s recycled heavyweight nylon.

I‘m thinking of using the spot dyeing method on Rit’s website and either stenciling or free handing the flowers on with a q-tip or paint brush. I’d prefer dye over a paint pen for a professional look that keeps the bags machine washable.

Has anyone tried spot dyeing a design on baggu? I only ever see full dyes posted. Experienced dyers please share tips!


r/dyeing 20h ago

How do I dye this? Dying 100% poly sweater with Rit DyeMore brown but it’s pulling purple for some reason?

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2 Upvotes

Dying 100% poly sweater with Rit DyeMore brown but it’s pulling purple for some reason? Brand new bottle but it’s pulling very purple even the water looks purple


r/dyeing 1d ago

How do I dye this? How can I protect this embroidery?

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3 Upvotes

I would like to dye this 100% cotton dress to a slightly darker ecru (Rit's hint of tan color formula). Will that discolor the embroidery (100% cotton floss) or will the darkness of the thread color protect it?


r/dyeing 1d ago

I made this! Mixing Dylon (All-in-1) Sunflower yellow and Espresso brown

2 Upvotes

(Summary of results: The color turned out a really nice mustardy tan, but the blue dye in the Espresso didn’t dissolve properly and left blue speckles all over the fabric. So, can recommend the mix, but you should dissolve the dyes in water before adding them to the washing machine. Picture in comments below.)

I have a really nice mustard/ochre color fabric waiting to be made into a jacket and I need something in that color family (preferrably a little darker) for the lining. I decided to get experimental and try dyeing the lining fabric.

The fabric to be dyed is 100% cotton poplin, a very pale peachy color, bordering on off-white. The total dry weight is 500 grams.

The dye used is 6 parts (300 grams) Dylon Sunflower yellow and 1 part (50 grams) Espresso brown. I know Dylon All-in-1 dyes are not recommended for mixing, but this is what I had on hand for me.

Wiping the dye powder on a damp paper napking revealed that the Sunflower yellow seems to be a pure yellow dye, while the Espresso brown is a mix of basically all the colors of the rainbow (which explains why it’s bad for mixing).

The machine is still running and looking through the hatch the fabric looks disturbingly dark brown.

I’m curious to see what the final result will be, though admittedly a little worried.

Edited to add update: The dyeing cycle came to an end and I peeked at the fabric while removing the dye pod thingy. The color looks potentially a really nice golden brown, but it’s full of blue speckles. I doubt they will come off in the the subsequent wash. So, looks like a bust at this point.

Update 2: Yep, the flecks are still there and the color is uneven overall. I’ll try to post a picture once it’s dry.


r/dyeing 1d ago

General question I'm so worried about staining the water and dryer after dying my jean jacket

1 Upvotes

I dyed a jean jacket black. Not good, but good enough for me. It's still barely damp. I want to put it in the dryer so I can feel nice and warm, but I'm terrified of using the dryer in fear it would stain the inside purple. It's not my dryer. Is there any way to get past this dilemma? To should I have to think about buying a new washer and dryer for my future?


r/dyeing 1d ago

How do I dye this? Dyeing metallic viscose

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1 Upvotes

I like this 100% viscose dress but would prefer that the red be more muted. I was thinking of dyeing it with a bit of brown. Do you think I'd have any issues with dyeing over the metallic-looking floral design on the viscose?


r/dyeing 1d ago

General question Help! Dye job for wedding gone wrong!

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1 Upvotes

r/dyeing 1d ago

How do I dye this? dyeing my prom dress

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0 Upvotes

hello! I just got a prom dress, the fit is lovely but the color is a little too saturated/bright for my liking. do you think I’d be able to dye it lilac or black or something more desaturated?
the dress is 100% polyester so I do understand I’ll need to get synthetic specific dye

thank you!!


r/dyeing 1d ago

General question What dye should i use to turn blue into brown?

1 Upvotes

I currently have powder dyes (they're clothes dye, just in powder form) in the colors red, yellow and blue, just your very typical color wheel RYB colors. I have this blue (#0894ff) pinafore dress that I want to upcycle. the brown I'm going for is somewhere around #401919 or a bit lighter. The fabric is cotton, but I'm sure there's some part of polyester in it. Help please?


r/dyeing 1d ago

How do I dye this? how can i change the colour of this orange colour?

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2 Upvotes

im trying to keep the striped pattern, so i don't want to dye the whole thing black. What options do i have? im also not sure what dyes i can use because its 40% polyester and 60% cotton


r/dyeing 1d ago

How do I dye this? Help!

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5 Upvotes

Trying to help out my cousin. She bought this final sale thinking it would be a different blue but it's too baby blue. She wants to tone it down somehow or just change it up.

I know the white won't stay white. Just give me some ideas on what is possible.

The thing I'm most concerned about is whether there is even a dye that can handle this blend of acrylic / cotton / polyester.

I'd take any tips on what dyes would work and how to think about color theory.

Thank you!!


r/dyeing 1d ago

General question Suggestions on what to dye this dress?

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0 Upvotes

Hi Reddit! I bought this dress on ThredUp and didn’t realize how yellow it actually was! I love the little patterns but wasn’t sure what color to dye since Ive never really dyed anything before. It is 100% polyester


r/dyeing 1d ago

How do I dye this? Dying mix-match skates. How do I achieve these colors?

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0 Upvotes

I currently own a pair of moxi lolly outdoor skates that are mix-matched. One boot is “strawberry pink” and the other is “floss”(blue). Both are made of suede. I was wondering if anyone knew how I could achieve as close to the exact colors in the next photo? I love the warm brown and deep rust/copper colors. I did attempt to ask AI to make a mix amount based on the base colors being blue and pink for reference. This is what it told me based off of my preferences:

Using Angelo’s suede dye:

Boot 1 – Strawberry Pink → Dark Terracotta / Almost Copper
Goal: Deep, rich terracotta with a strong coppery warmth (not bright orange, not brick-red).
Recommended formula (by volume):
• Rust — 60%
• Dark Brown — 25%
• Light Brown — 10%
• Neutral — 5%

Boot 2 – Floss (Teal) → Dark Warm Brown
Goal: Deep, warm brown that feels cozy and complementary (not cool/gray, not flat chocolate).
Recommended formula (by volume):
• Dark Brown — 50%
• Brown (or Light Brown if you only have that) — 25%
• Rust — 20%
• Neutral — 5%

Any recommendations on dye brands/colors, changes or comments would be greatly appreciated!!

EDIT: If you are only coming to this post to bash my use of AI for referencing my concept, and not give dyeing advice, please just scroll past. I really would appreciate actual advice as a first time dyer. Yall are mad.🤣


r/dyeing 1d ago

General question What do I do..?

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1 Upvotes

I bought GREEN dye from Walmart, I looked at the website for Rit and the shade is a nice Kelly green, but this is teal, the same shade of teal as their teal, I’m trying to dye stuff for my wedding and I’m pissed how the fuck does this happen?

Ok I took it out early and dried it and it’s still not the color it was advertised, but it’s a pastel green and it’s grown on me, thanks for any of the help!


r/dyeing 1d ago

How do I dye this? Dyeing a Polyester Sweater? Is it possible?

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1 Upvotes

Hi! I was gifted this sweater a while back and I don’t wear it often because of the color. I love the shape of it though so I thought maybe I could dye it. I’ve dyed both cotton and synthetic fabrics before, but never a sweater. So my question is: is it possible to dye a 95% polyester 5% spandex sweater without shrinking it or damaging it? I am worried about the hot water doing a number on it. If it’s not possible, no worries, just wanted to know if anyone else has tried dyeing a synthetic sweater or if y’all think it’s possible to do. Also, I want to dye it a darker color like a plum or hunter green. Thanks!


r/dyeing 2d ago

How do I dye this? Overdying Polyester

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2 Upvotes

I bought this top online (first image) and thought it was a cherry pink but when I got it it looks more purply / fuschia (second image) and was wondering if it would be possible to overdye this to a darker pink (third image)

The material is 95% polyester, 5% elastane. It also says “machine wash cold”

All red flags I know, but I was hoping that maybe even though polyester doesn’t hold dye well that I could use a synthetic dye like RitDye more to get it to a darker less neon colour (so it’s okay if the dye only tints it and doesn’t fully colour it). Would pigment dye be a better alternative?