How can I dye this bedding?

Lindi
by Lindi

Would I be able to dye it myself or will I have to get it professionally done ?

  7 answers
  • Gk Gk on Dec 29, 2019

    Hello Lindi! You may or may not be able to dye this. It will depend on what the fabric is. 100% cotton dyes the best. Blends don't always take the dye well. If you can dye it, it will not turn out as a solid color because of all the color variations in the fabric print and in time, with washing, the dye will fade. You could try just dying the square pillow cover to see what you think. Another option would be to buy or make a duvet cover for the quilt. It might be a safer option for that quilt! You can usually buy matching pillow covers too.

  • Hi, Lindi!

    If you want it to be one solid color, making a cover for it would be the best option. Solid color flat sheets would work well. I hope this helps!

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Dec 29, 2019
    You can do it yourself with the following planning:


    1.) Fiber Content is a big deal. If it has polyester in it, then you’ll have to buy dye made for synthetic fibers and more bottles than one would for 100% cotton. If it has rayon in it, the heat of dyeing will ruin it.


    2.) Dye Vat Size and location. Some people try to dye in their bathtubs and that’s folly. You’ll need to find a very very large stove top container that can be kept warm for at least 30 minutes, while you manhandle this giant wet and heavy bedspread. I would recommend doing this outside if you know someone with a butane or propane turkey deep fat fryer. Because you’ll want it to drip dry outside after you’re finished dyeing it.


    3.) Time & weight. It always takes me longer than I think to dye something this big. It has to be stirred and picked up and set back down again, to make sure no “pockets” are left dry. The polyester content will make it take the dye less well and plan on buying darker dye than your desired outcome.


    Alternate ideas:

    1.) Sew new fabric on top of it. Pre-wash wash the new fabric, sew the pieces together, hem the perimeter and then pin it into place. Then start in the middle and hand tack it, with embroidery knots. If you have access to a sewing machine that will handle this bulk, then machine sew it.


    If you want to make a giant pillow case for this, that would be a duvet cover and it can be safety pinned or Velcro’d on.


    2.) Buy spray fabric dye from an auto parts store. It works, as long as you hang it up and spray horizontally and evenly. I’m sure there’s other sources of spray fabric dye.


  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 29, 2019

    With all those patterns it would be really hard to get a solid dye job, I agree make a duvet cover with two sheets. I make them with a flannel sheet on one side for coziness and a colored sheet on top, and use an upholstry zipper for the bottom since I hate doing button holes. The bonus of duvet covers you can easily wash to keep your comforter clean, and you can change color or patterns at any time. I make them for all my disable clients beds.

  • Dee Dee on Dec 29, 2019

    Buy some really nice sheets and make a duvet cover. You are not going to be happy with dying, because it will most likely be uneven in color and a comforter would be really hard to dye.

  • Lindi Lindi on Dec 30, 2019

    Hey guys, thank you all so much for your detailed advice. The bed set was available on my local freebie site and I thought I’d ask about the dying before grabbing.......after looking at your replies I have decided not to grab after all but huge thanks for helping me. Happy New Year to you all.