I need help here please....

Philippines
March 9, 2010 8:13am CST
Hi guys do you have an idea how to dye a shirt? I got 500 red shirts that needed to be dyed suppose to be in black but I am not sure if it's possible to really turn it in black. These shirts were donated to us for election campaign but the color doesn't fit to the color of the team and it is as well the color of the opponent. We can't possibly use it coz we don't want to be identified on the opponent side. Please help me I tried to check on the inet but I can't understand the procedure so well. :( Maybe you can give me a step by step process on it and the right dye to use. I really need your help....Thanks so much in advance.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
9 Mar 10
hello friend, To turn red into black color...you should combine yellow and blue dye mixture(check for the best dye brand)you bring it to a boil(the yellow and blue dye powder) before putting the t-shirt on... Yellow + blue+ red = black...hope you can make it.
• Philippines
9 Mar 10
I think I 'll try your suggestion tomorrow. Do you any idea what could be a good brand for that? I use Venus and I think it's not that good. But i didn't find any other brands maybe you know some please let me know. Thanks so much.
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
9 Mar 10
ohh,i am sorry dear,but i do not know any brand or any particular brand of dye at least you can try with one shirt first...make sure to follow the instructions well..
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
9 Mar 10
What a bummer Rajaiv! I think that black may cover anything! It's worth a try. I would go online to about.com and see if they have any specific info on dying over a color. I know when you are doing hair, depositing color on top of color is usually a no no. Except for black. Black will color over anything. In any case, what we do if they're is color is to remove it by bleaching it. If you want you could bleach them first. I dont really think you have to. I would just go ahead and dye them black and leave them in for as long as you can. dl
• Philippines
9 Mar 10
Hi dloveli! You know what I actually think that it will just turn into black but it didn't. It turned into a light maroon. Probably the color wasn't absorbed well. But I don't know how I could possibly do it. :(
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
10 Mar 10
I asked my grandmother and she said you could try bleaching them first but the bleach may eat holes if you use too much. I would contact a craft store. Good luck. dl
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
9 Mar 10
I have tried to search online how you can dye your red tshirts to black colour. I don't know if it is some kind of joke or not. I seriously think that it would be cheaper to buy new black shirts instead of trying to dye them :)
@iridium (431)
9 Mar 10
you need to check the label on the shirt to see what they're made of. if its cotton then it should be ok. but it will be expensive to buy that much dye and salt. i would chuck them in the bathtub in small batches. each dye pack does about 2 shirts i think so you're gonna need an AWFUL lot of dye! and i think you have to use twice as much for black. if the label says polycotton (or a mixture of polyester and cotton) then you'll never get it black just maroon. you could try fabric paint? or if you only have to wear them once pnting them with ordinary wall paint?
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
9 Mar 10
I did this once when I was a teenager and it was a lot of fun... Here is a website that gives you the how tos, step by step, and what dye to use... A suggestion... Since you have a lot of shirts to do, and it sounds like a big job, you may find it fun to have a day of it with the kids on your team.. I am not sure where you live, but if its like here where the weather is finally starting to get warm this would be a cool activity for them to do... Also less stress on you personally.. Ya their hands may get multi colored, but it will wash out sooner or later.. http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/tiedye/a/041601a.htm Hope this helps, and its a lot of fun, just can be mess Good luck
• United States
9 Mar 10
First make sure that the shirts are all cotton. If they are not you may have some issues with the cloth accepting the dye. Then go and purchase RIT dye. It is specifically designed for dying clothes. Mix according to the package you purchase. Test dye one shirt before doing so to the entire group. To dye soak the shirt in the dye, there should be a recommended time for color to set on the package. Then wash to remove any excess dye. Since the shirts are already red, I don't know if the color will take as well.
• Philippines
9 Mar 10
Yeah that's the problem actually it didn't really turned into black when I tried it yesterday. Do I really have to boil it?
• United States
9 Mar 10
I know with some dyes you do have to boil them. This is what activates the setting process. If you directions call for a boil process then I would say yes.