Dying a bleached linen

Question

~I didn't do it~  When this stunning Matelasse' coverlet came into my favorite  thrift shop at 5.00! I couldn't pass it by.  Especially since  it was 25% off linens day. Obviously, someone had a bleach accident. Does anyone else have experience with dyeing a piece like this? I'd take any suggestions. All is not lost for her, she's too gorgeous &  like NEW!

Janet Pizaro · Answer

I found this inspiration. If you decide to dye it the flowers could be inked back in with a fabric marker. https://www.ritstudio.com/2015/03/11/old-cove...

DIANA · Answer

Try soaking it in Oxy-clean. I bought an  old white bedspread that the fold lines had yellowed.  After soaking it for a couple of hours and then washing it , it turned out like new.

Francesca Potestivo Yerke · Answer

Maybe you could add more (watered down) bleach splotches all over and Then dye it all a very light color or white wash it all with a watered down light pearl paint. That way the bleaching looks like it was part of the dyeing process and on purpose. The flowers may still stand out.
Please share whichever method & results :)

Julie · Answer

I agree  by trying to re-bleach the whole piece as the dye may take differently where the current bleach stain exists.

None · Answer

To save the flowers if you dye it you could cover them with melted wax like the Batik method.

Alice Roberts · Answer

Hello, there are also acrylic fabric paints  artists use to paint on Fabrics, so, possibly, they could be used to repaint the flower details, are they applique or embroidery? I would think the acrylic fabric paint pens would be easy to use with depending on the type of point they have, however if it is a broad point, it might be easier to use a fine tip or a small stencil brush depending on the design. There is a good bit of info online about fabric painting as well as craft books on the subject.  I'm doing a photo album that is canvas soon, for a gift.  I have a couple of decorative design books that reference painting articles of clothing.  So, it seems clothing might be laundered more than a spread?  just a thought  on that, good luck with the project. I'd like to see how it turns out.

CK · Answer

Personally I'd soak it super duper well in bleach to get it all to the same color..instead of spots here and there. If you like that result, you're done. If not, then you can proceed to dying it another color.   (I've done this, it works!)

John Kohl · Answer

You can always tea dye it. Fill tub with cool water. Add 5 or6 tea bags. When they have changed the color of the water pull coverlet in to soak a few hours. Watch it so get the color you want. You mentioned green. Maybe green tea would work   Lol

Dixie · Answer

Don't neglect using a strong Oxyclean bath.  If your washing machine has a soak cycle, fill the tub halfway with very hot water, add Oxyclean powder, agitate to mix, then submerge the cover and let stand overnight, then spin out water.  No harm will come to the flowers or fabric and, hopefully, the bleached areas will mellow.

William · Answer

Try using Rit Color Remover to remove the bleach stain. Of course you may lose the color in the flowers. Then you can dye it. Another option is once all the color is stripped, you can use Sharpie or fabric markers to color in the flowers. A lot of people swear whites are more whiter using color remover.

Penny Pirog Mercadante · Answer

If you dyed it a lighter color than the flowers,  you'd have an almost monochromatic effect...pretty...

Char Stevenson · Answer

Please don't use chlorine bleach  on your coverlet.  It's already had probably straight bleach dumped on it which has already weakened the fibers.  Add more and you could end up with no fabric in that spot.  Don't agitate it much, either.

Nancy · Answer

I am an antique dealer and have specialized in linens for many years.  IF this coverlet is 100% cotton, it will dye very well.  YOU must first wash it several times in order to remove any bleach or soap residue.  If you dye it green, the gold flowers (if they are embroidered in cotton thread) will turn a blue tint.  If there is any nylon or polyester in the fabric it will NOT dye well at all.  Note- That bleach stain may be a urine stain.

Eileen B. · Answer

Try Persil Laundry Detergent.  It works well for stains if it is a cat urine stain.

Linda T · Answer

Instead of dying it green, use a pink or peach, even a pale lilac .  All would probably enhance the flowers instead of neutralizing them.

Linda · Answer

How about a weak tea dye?

Sherry Knott · Answer

No answer for help but I just wanted to say I found the exact same one at a Goodwill here in Georgia for the same! It also included the matching pillow shams with satin ties.  While there I also bought a minty green colored bed skirt.  Unfortunately, with my mattress being a pillowtop and also having a paddded mattress cover, the coverlet wouldn't come down far enough to meet the bed skirt.  My solution?  I ordered a cream colored wrap-around bed skirt and wrapped it around the mattress.  Now the coverlet falls over the top of the cream colored ruffled one that falls over the green one and it's gorgeous! Way to go bargain hunters!

Dying a bleached linen

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Dying a bleached linen

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