Message: Can a pressure cooker be used to dye polyester from pink to black to get the high temps needed?

I generally recommend against dyeing a polyester dress, because it's not worth the cost, time, or effort, compared to buying a new dress. Dyeing takes practice and trial and error; it is very difficult to get the desired result the very first time you try, especially when dyeing synthetics, and you might destroy the dress. Would it be possible to get a local seamstress to copy the dress in black fabric? That would probably give the best results.

There is a big problem in trying to dye any dress, if the dress is not washable. Can your dress be washed? A garment cannot be dyed unless it is washable. There is a strong possibility that a dress that is marked "dry clean only" will not survive the dyeing process. The stitching may shrink, or the fabric may prove to be fragile. If there is a lining to the dress, it is will shrink to a different extent than the dress, which will ruin the way it looks. If the dress is not lined, it might be possible to wash it and dye it.

There are two main options for coloring a polyester dress. One is a special kind of dye called 'disperse dye', which can be purchased by mail-order from PRO Chemical & Dye in Massachusetts or Aljo Dye in New York City. The other is to use fabric paint. The disadvantage of fabric paint is that the color produced may not be even, but its advantage is that it does not require boiling the dress, and therefore is less likely to destroy it.

You cannot dye polyester with an all-purpose dye, such as Rit, as the color will tend to wash out; also, the darkest color you are likely to obtain is grey, not black. Using a pressure cooker will not make an all-purpose dye work. The problem is that the dye has no affinity for the polyester fabric and will just wash out. Rit dye can be used only on natural fibers, plus nylon and rayon, but never on polyester. Given that the dress needs to be worn only once, perhaps it would be better to try using all-purpose dye than trying nothing at all, but don't use a pressure cooker with it. If you try this, use at least four packets of dye per pound of fabric, in a very large cooking pot. The result is likely to be burgundy rather than black, but this might still be more suitable for a funeral.

If you mail-order some good disperse type dye, a pressure cooker could, in theory, be used for dyeing polyester, but any folds in the dress are likely to produce lines after you are finished with dyeing it, so being unable to stir the dress during the cooking process would be a problem. Instead of using a pressure cooker, you can use a carrier chemical such as PRO Chemical & Dye's carrier chemical, PRO Dye Carrier NSC. This chemical reduces the temperature needed for dyeing polyester so that boiling the dress for an hour with the chemical and the dye would suffice.

Using fabric paint instead of disperse dye seems like a better idea to me. The chance that the dress will survive the treatment is higher. A garment that is colored with fabric paint should normally be heat-set and then washed, but I usually recommend that a dress not be washed until at least a week after applying the fabric paint, though you will not be able to wait that long. If you use fabric paint, try firmly rubbing a clean cloth on it, after it is completely dry; if color does not transfer, it should be safe to wear the dress, once, without endangering furniture that comes into contact with it.

Your choice of what kind of fabric paint you use is crucial. You do not want to use any kind of thick fabric paint, such as puffy paint, slick paint, or anything else that is supposed to leave any feeling on the fabric. You need to use a thin fabric paint. Acrylic artists' paints can be used if you can find some fabric paint medium to mix it with; otherwise, the results will be rather stiff and scratchy. Your local crafts supply store is unlikely to carry fabric paint medium, however, I am afraid. The best paint for this purpose would be a very thin fabric paint, such as Jacquard Dye-na-flow.

(Please help support this web site. Thank you.)