Name: Emily

Country: England

Message: Hi, 
I have had a look at your website which is really helpful but I just wasn't too sure on what I actually want to dye. I have some very thick cotton curtains which I have been given. The main colour is a dark sky blue and the lining is navy blue, I want to dye them a neutral colour maybe a dark brown but I am not sure if it will actually come out brown or if it will come out as a dark olive green, if you could give me some advice that would be really helpful and much appreciated.

Are the curtains washable? If so, you should be able to dye them. Be sure to wash them carefully first, using hot water, because any invisible stains there may be on the curtains will prevent the dye from taking evenly. It is always important to thoroughly pre-wash anything you want to dye.

Your results will be much better if the curtains are 100% cotton, and free of any stain-resistant or permanent press finishes, than if they are made of a cotton/polyester blend or if they have any surface finishes that may repel dye.

Blue plus orange equals brown. If the color you add to the blue is too yellow, then you will get green or olive, instead, but if you then add more red, the color will become more a neutral brown. So, the color you want will not be impossible to reach, though, depending on what dye color you choose to begin with, you may need to repeat the dyeing with another color of dye to adjust the color of the curtains.

The lining will end up as a darker color than the main color of the curtains, but that should not be a problem. The lining will probably end up nearly black, while you dye the main part of the curtains the color that you want.

Since you are in England, you probably have access only to a front-loading washing machine. Dylon Machine Dyes are a brand of warm water fiber reactive dye that is widely available in England, and it is designed for use in front-loading washing machines. Carefully follow the directions on the package; add salt or other ingredients only if the instructions specifically say to do so.  I think you should try dyeing your curtains with a brown Dylon Machine dye (they have both Dark Brown and Woodland Brown mixtures); if your results are too greenish after you have washed out the excess dye and dried the curtains, then repeat the process with a deep red.

In the US, Dylon Machine Dye is not available, and top-loading washing machines are more available, so for American readers in this situation I would recommend using a top-loading washing machine recipe with Procion MX fiber reactive dye, soda ash, and salt. Procion MX dye is also available in England, by mail order from suppliers such as Fibrecrafts. See "Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World".

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