Name: Walter
Message: My daughter has a beige skirt composed of 80% Rayon,18% Nylon and 2% Spandex.Care label says hand wash in cold water.Can this be dyed black and if so what type of dye is needed?

80% rayon means that it can be dyed with fiber reactive dye, which can be used at room temperature, ideal for the temperature limitations placed by the spandex. The nylon and spandex will not be dyed, but will remain beige; however, the results are usually good as long as the fiber is at least 80% dyeable. (The undyeable spandex is often found in the core of the threads from which the fabric was knit or woven, completely covered by cotton; if not, you will obtain a slightly heathered effect, which is often attractive enough.)

Dyeing black, in general, requires at least twice as much dye as other colors require. An excellent choice of dye for rayon or cotton would be the MX fiber reactive dye sold by, among other places, Pro Chemical & Dye. For a perfectly smooth, single color, follow the washing machine dyeing instructions. You can do the same thing, with more effort, by constant stirring in a five-gallon plastic bucket. I have had good results from machine-washing and machine-dyeing my rayon hand-wash-only clothing, because my washing machine has a very gentle delicate cycle. Whether this is safe for you will depend on your washing machine, however. You must treat wet rayon very gently, as rayon becomes very weak when wet and can easily tear. You will not want to use hot water to prewash your daughter's skirt, although it is best for removing dye-repelling finishes.

There is one problem that you should consider first, which is that the stitching that holds the skirt together is almost certainly made of polyester and will not dye. Will the skirt look okay in black, when the stitching stays beige? It depends on the style, and on how formal the effect needs to be.