Name: Isaac
Message: I did a search and didn't find anything. Is it possible to tie dye ultrasuede light (facile)? Ultrasuede is a 100% microfiber synthetic suede, I think it's made from polymer fibers. If it is possible to dye it what should I use for it, and how? 

"Polymer" is an interesting description. A polymer is any long chain molecule made of many repeating units. Examples of natural polymers include the proteins in silk and wool, and the cellulose in cotton and linen. Examples of synthetic polymers include nylon, acrylic, and polyester. I don't believe that there is such as thing as a textile fiber in the world that is not made of a polymer of some sort, except for true metal fibers made from such materials as stainless steel.

Fortunately, there are legal requirements to divulge the fiber content of fabrics being sold. According to online fabric stores, Ultrasuede® light, or Ultrasuede® Facile, is made of 100% polyester. It is different from other polyesters in feel and appearance because of the size of the fibers - exceptionally narrow fibers are called microfibers - and in the non-woven character of the cloth.

Polyester can be dyed in two ways. One is by extensive boiling, with a special kind of dye called Disperse dye, plus a carrier chemical which helps to make up for the fact that polyester dyeing works better at temperatures well above the boiling point of water. The other is by heat transfer, similar to the transfer presses used to print t-shirts commercially, again with Disperse dye. You cannot dye polyester with the same dyes you use for cotton, silk, or wool. They will all just wash out.

Boiling Ultrasuede Facile may present problems. The care instructions I have seen for it advise machine washing in cold water or dry cleaning. It is usually a very bad idea to boil any fabric whose care instructions say to use cold water only. Perhaps there is an important finishing chemical which will be removed or destroyed by boiling water, or perhaps the fibers have been crimped by heat in such a way that they stay in the fabric, but will fall out of the fabric if boiled again.

You should be able to create tie-dye-like heat transfers, using Disperse Dye paints. You can buy Disperse dye at PRO Chemical & Dye or Aljo Dyes in the US. Look at the links describing this process on my page, "Dyeing Polyester with Disperse Dye".

Another possibility is to forget about dyeing, and instead do some tie-PAINTing. This is probably a better idea, especially for the polyester dyeing novice. See my page, About Fabric Paints, for more information about fabric paints, and the difference between fabric paints and dye. Dharma Pigment "Dyes" are a type of fabric paint which the manufacturer recommends for use in tie-dyeing polyester. The enormous advantage of this product, as compared to Disperse Dye, is that it does not require boiling!

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