Do you think if I dye a light brown shirt red it will look ok? I'm making my own costume and I have a light brown shirt that is the perfect style for my pirate costume but I need a red shirt so my question is: Do you think if I dye a light brown shirt red it will come out ok? The fabric is 100% rayon, whatever that is. Also, when you dye clothing does it stay permanent or do you have to do it a few times? and does it rub off on your skin?

Rayon dyes beautifully, assuming that you're talking about viscose rayon, not acetate. (See "How to Dye Rayon".) The word "rayon" generally refers to viscose rayon. The best dye to use is a cool water fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX dye. You won't be able to find this dye in the grocery store, but all good crafts stores should carry it, and some fabric stores, as well. Look for Jacquard Procion MX dye, or Tulip One Step Fashion Dye, or Dylon Cold Water Dye, or Dylon Permanent Dye. In the UK or Australia, you can use Dylon Machine Dye, but it's not available in North America.

If you use one of the dyes I recommend, and follow your dyeing by washing out the unattached excess dye (wash once in cool water and then at least twice in very hot water), then no dye will rub off on your skin, and it will be safe even to toss your dyed items in the washing machine with white clothes. Properly used Procion MX dye simply does not fade or run. (The same cannot be said for all purpose dye such as Rit, a hot-water dye that fades badly and bleeds a bit whenever you wash it.)

You will not be able to get a bright, true red unless you are dyeing a perfectly white garment. If you use bright red dye on a light brown shirt, you will end up with a brownish red. If it's important to you to get a bright red, consider using Rit Color Remover to lighten your shirt before you dye it. It will not work on some dyes, but you won't know until you try it whether or not it will work on your shirt. (See "What chemicals can be used to remove dye?".)

Be careful when you dye rayon, or wash it. Rayon is a fiber that is very fragile when it is wet. It is much more likely to tear when wet than when dry. Never wash rayon with heavy garments such as jeans in the same load, always use a super-delicate setting or a lingerie bag, and lift rayon carefully when it is wet.

One other consideration is that the stitching that holds your shirt together is almost certainly polyester. This means that the seams will stay the original color, while the fabric takes the color of your dye. Will the combination of light brown seams with red fabric look good? It depends on the style of the stitching and the shirt.



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[This answer was first posted, by me, on Yahoo answers, on September 30, 2008.]