Message: I hope this one hasn't already been answered because I've been reading for hours.... bright blue 100% polyester very very sheer shirt, very expensive shirt, how do I dye it any color but blue without destroying it, oh and to make it worse, it's trimmed in lace, please help if you can.

Polyester is really kind of a pain to dye. You can't dye it with ordinary dyes that work on cotton; all-purpose dye will not work. You can't dye it at room temperature; you have to boil it with the dye in a large cooking pot, large enough for the garment to move freely, in a pot that you don't plan to reuse for cooking food. If the garment can't survive the harsh treatment of boiling, if it says "dry clean only" or "wash in cool water", it's not a good idea to dye it.

Given those warnings, it IS possible to dye polyester. Mail order some disperse dye from PRO Chemical & Dye in Massachusetts, or Aljo Mfg. in New York. Study their instructions, here and here, and be sure to buy all of the other ingredients that are called for, when you order your dyes. You can also consider use Jacquard's "iDye Poly" disperse dyes for polyester.

There are obvious color limitations. A bright blue can be dyed green by using yellow or green dye; it can be dyed purple by using pink or fuchsia dye; it can be dyed brown with orange dye; or it can be dyed navy blue or black. You will not be able to dye it red or orange or yellow, nor any pale color.

The lace on your shirt is probably made of nylon fiber, even if it is not indicated on the fiber content label for the shirt. The disperse dye that works on polyester will also dye nylon; it only works on synthetic fibers. However, it's impossible to predict exactly what color you will get on nylon, as compared to polyester. It might turn out a bit more yellowish, or a bit more reddish. It will probably look good, but there is no way to guarantee it.

Don't try to dye a shirt that has an obvious stain. Even invisible stains may prevent smooth, even dyeing. Be sure to wash the shirt extremely well before you try to dye it. Use a large enough cooking pot that the shirt can move in it very freely, and stir frequently while dyeing, or you may get a tie-dye effect. (Or perhaps you should aim for a tie-dyed effect.)

See "Dyeing Polyester with Disperse Dyes", for more information about dyeing polyester.

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