I am a grandmother of twin 9-yr. old girls. They got 2 cat costumes (black) from some internet supplier. The kids want them dyed, one a golden brown, the other a dark brown. It is really cheap material, but these were so hard to find that I do not want to ruin them. Thus, I am looking for a professional in this field who I can pay to dye these costumes for me. Please help. Where in San Diego do I start to find someone like this?

Sorry, but there is just no way to dye anything black to make it a lighter color, such as golden brown or dark brown. Dye darkens the color of fabric; it can never lighten it.

What is the fiber content of the costumes? It is impossible to make any recommendations on how to dye them without knowing what they are made of. Cotton fabric can usually be bleached to lighten its color, but synthetic fibers will generally be destroyed by bleach. Polyester, in particular, must never be bleached.

Professionals do not want to dye polyester or acetate. The only company I know that is at all willing to try dyeing 100% polyester is Color Creek, in Alaska. I am highly doubtful that you will find any dyer in your area who will be willing to dye these cat costumes, even for a lot of money.

It is pretty easy to make a cat costume. Start with 100% cotton leggings or tights (or at least 80% cotton), a 100% cotton long-sleeved t-shirt or turtleneck and a cotton cap, plus two pairs of cotton socks per child and some 100% cotton white PFD fabric to use to make the tails and ears. Buy Procion MX dye or even all-purpose dye, since the problem of all-purpose dye washing out in the laundry won't be much of an issue for a one-time-wear costume, and dye everything to match at the same time in the washing machine. Cut, say, a twelve-inch-wide strip of the dyed fabric the longer way (the full 60" width of the fabric) and roll it lengthwise, to make a tail, and safety-pin it to the back of the leggins; sew the tail and stuff it if you have time. Cut out ears from cardboard and glue some of the remaining fabric on them to cover them, then staple them to the dyed cotton watch caps. The children should put their dyed socks on both feet and hands as part of the costume. Finally, buy some children's costume makeup at the local pharmacy and decorate the kids' faces with whiskers and stripes.

The poor quality of most commercial costumes for children makes even the poorest hand sewing - or stapling, pinning, or gluing - look extremely good in comparison.


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