Name: tammi
Message: I need to dye a white dress shirt to ivory or a light cream color. How would I do this, if it is possible?

What's it made of? Is it 100% cotton?

If you want to dye something a perfect single color, it is best to dye it in the washing machine. Since most washing machines do not allow temperatures above 140°F., you should use a cool water dye, such as Procion MX dye. See "How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?".

Dylon Cold Water dyes are fine, too, and include a product called Dylon Tea Dye, which gives a light-colored result similar to dyeing with real tea, but without the need to boil the fabric (which is hard on a shirt), and with far more permanent results.

You could even go ahead and try all-purpose dye with the hottest water your washing machine can provide. All-purpose dyes are usually unsatisfactory on cotton since washing machine temperatures are really too low for them to bond well to cotton, and their colors are duller and tend to wash out a little with every laundering, but for a pale color such as ivory, this should not be much of a problem. 

If your shirt is 50% polyester, 50% cotton, you will have to use twice as much dye, since the polyester will not take any of these dyes. Polyester will take a pale brown color if you boil it in coffee, and it is okay to use your good cookware to boil a shirt in coffee, though you should never use it for real dye, but if there is any nylon trim, such as lace or ribbon, it will take a much darker brown color from the coffee than the polyester will.

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