Name: DeAnn
Message: I am costuming a local production and was given some white tricot.  I would like to dye it a bubblegum pink.  What type of dye would you recommend and which process would be best.  Because of the large quanity, I would prefer to use my washing machine. 

What type of dye you should use depends entirely on what the fiber is that it was woven from. Tricot is a plain knit weave which may be made from artificial or natural fibers.

If your tricot is made of silk, wool, or nylon, you can use acid dye to dye it. While it is possible to use all-purpose dye for this (all-purpose dye performs much more acceptably on these fibers than on cotton), you might want to purchase special acid dye meant for use on these fibers. 

If your tricot is woven from cotton or from viscose rayon (this is the usual type of rayon seen in the US), you can dye it with cool water fiber reactive dyes. You can also use all-purpose dye on these two fibers, but the hot water required will shrink the fabric and might damage rayon, and it will not withstand a great deal of laundering. However, the dye is easy to find in local stores, though it costs considerably more per pound of fabric than mail-order fiber reactive dye.

If your tricot is woven from polyester or acetate, I do not recommend that you attempt to dye it. The dyes required for these synthetics are not suitable for dye novices.

Instructions for dyeing in the washing machine may be found at "How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?".


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