Name: Julie
Message: I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of dye to use to dye elastic. The generic kind of elastic you buy at the fabric store.

It depends on the fiber content of the elastic. You might have to contact the manufacturer to learn this, if it is not indicated on the package.

According to the "Get Creative" web site, soft stretch baby elastic is made of 67% acetate, 33% rubber, while most other elastics are made of varying percentages of polyester and rubber, and cotton braided elastic is made of 73% cotton, 27% rubber.

Acetate and polyester may be dyed with disperse dye, but this requires boiling them for an hour with disperse dye and a special carrier chemical; see Dyeing Polyester with Disperse Dyes. Will the rubber survive the extended boiling? Very possibly not.

Cotton can be dyed at room temperature if you acquire cool water fiber reactive dyes, such as Procion MX, Cibacron F, or Drimarene K dye. Dylon Cold Water dye is a brand of fiber reactive dye that can sometimes be found in stores; bulk fiber reactive dye can be purchased much more economically from the mail-order companies listed on my Sources for Supplies page. All-purpose dye, such as Rit or Tintex brand dyes, require extended heat to produce good results, so be sure to find fiber reactive dye if you have cotton elastic to dye.