Hello. I Stumbled Across Your Site, And Had A Quick Look To See If My Answer Was Already There, But I Couldn't Find It. I Was Wondering If I Could Dye A 100% White Cotton T-shirt Which Has A Motif On The Frount Black. Without Ruining The Motif. Also I Have A 100% Cotton Brown T-shirt With A Motif On That I Would Also Like To Dye Black. I Heard That If You Cover The Motif With Wax, Then It Will Work. But I'm Not So Sure.

What is the motif made of? If it is screen-printed with a plastic-like ink, or embroidered with polyester or nylon thread, you can dye with cool water fiber reactive dyes (such as Procion MX dye) and have no effect whatsoever on the motif.

If the motif is black, there is no problem regardless of what it is made of, because, as dye is transparent, the dye cannot cover up the black. Just use light enough colors to leave a good contrast between the black and the dyed regions.

If the motif is rendered in fabric dye, you will need to cover it or otherwise protect the motif from the dye. If the motif is rendered in fabric paint, it all depends upon whether the fabric paint is transparent or opaque; most fabric dyes are transparent, and dyeing the fabric behind them will appear to darken them, messing up the design. Opaque fabric paint will be unaffected by cool water dye.

To cover a motif with wax, you must get the wax hot enough to thoroughly penetrate the fabric, and apply it to both the front and back of the fabric. After the dyeing is completed (obviously using only cool water dyes so as not to melt the wax before time), remove the wax by boiling; see "How to Batik". A much easier method, for tie-dyeing or low water immersion, is simply to tie of the region around the motif and avoid placing any dye upon it.

Note that the requirement in many of these possible situations for cool water dye means that you must not use all-purpose dye. All-purpose dye works well only when applied in very hot water, preferably 190 degrees Fahrenheit (88 C.) or higher. Use a cool water fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX dye. For a list of mail-order companies that sell various types of dyes, see "Sources for Supplies".