How do you correct a bad dye job on linen fabric?

I was home dying linen for an art project and it turned out splotchy. I used red. Is there anyway to fix it?

Don't just redye the linen. Since dye is transparent, the regions of your fabric that are lighter now will still be lighter after you redye it.

Instead, use Rit Color Remover (sodium dithionite) or Jacquard Color Remover (thiourea dioxide) to remove the dye. Both of these chemicals are used in hot water and are much gentler to the fabric than chlorine bleach. Rit Color Remover can often be found at grocery stores or pharmacies, in addition to crafts stores. See "What chemicals can be used to remove dye?".

After removing the dye, wash the linen very thoroughly in hot water with extra soda ash to help remove surface treatments that prevent the dye from reaching the fabric evenly.

To redye the linen after removing the bad dye job, use a large enough container, with enough water in your dyebath for the fabric to move very freely as you stir it. Follow the recipe for the dye you use closely, and stir constantly. Most uneven dye jobs are caused by using too small a pot or not stirring enough.

The best dye to use for linen is fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX dye. It works better than all-purpose dyes such as Rit or Tintex, and, since it can be used in cool water, it does not require the use of an enormous cooking pot. A 5-gallon plastic bucket, or the washing machine, will do fine.


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