Scarves "Upcycled" and DIY Scarves
- Thread starter beaumonde
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My dye job, using Rit dye in Royal Blue:
(I have since lightly ironed it.)
(I have since lightly ironed it.)
Great job! I really like the new version, it's infinitely more wearable!
Sure, no problem. Grab a drink or snack because long post ahead...
I used the Dylon washing machine dye...this is not the dye for silks and they say it won't dye wool and silk...who am I to actually pay attention to instructions?I actually believe that they state that because most silk articles are dry clean only. But H scarves can be washed in the machine, even though they state not to do it, so I felt OK trying it. If you are nervous, use the hand dye method. Note this is the new "pod" style Dylon that doesn't require salt. Note also that the scarf is a 140 silk twill.
Throughout I used the 30 degree setting (cold in the US). In any case, the Dylon washing machine dyes are now able to work at this low setting (in the past it had to be 60+). If you are somewhere where Dylon isn't available, I can't speak to what would be a dupe.
Step 1. Wash scarf. I first did a short wash (20-30m) with a woolite type detergent meant for wools/silks. This is important. Some H scarves have an coating on them that make them stiffer and you want to make sure the dye job comes out uniform. Also, sweat, etc. on a scarf post wear will then be removed, anything that's been rubbed onto it, etc. If it is clean, it'll absorb dye evenly. Instructions state to start with a wet article, so I washed the scarf and that's it. No fabric softener, nothing. Just detergent. After this cycle completed I moved to step 2.
Step 2. As per the Dylon instructions, I put the pod on top of the to be dyed scarf. Here's the caveat, and here's where you need to use your judgment. A pod can color 600g of fabric full color, 1.2kg in a lighter color. They usually base this on cotton. Silk will soak up less dye than cotton would. So it'll turn out lighter, regardless. There is a lot of dye in the pod (already premixed with salt). I was worried about it coming out too dark but didn't want to fiddle with only using half the dye, etc. because this was my first attempt. Regardless, I ran a "shorter" wash - I started with a pre set for 1 hr at 30 degrees C with no intent to let the cycle go longer than 45m but wanted room to to shorten as necessary. Note as well, I put in another large scarf in to help "sop up" some of the dye. Was it necessary? Likely not. After about 15 minutes, I could see the scarf through the window of the machine and felt it was quite dark (remember it will lighten post rinse and rewash and once dry). At about 20-25 minutes I decided to stop the main wash and let the machine do a rinse/centrifuge.
Step 3. Run a final wash with detergent (woolite type again) and this time I added fabric softener (not necessary but I wanted a soft scarf). I ran a cold delicates wash, which is roughly 45 minutes long on my machine. The only difference between this setting and the shorter one in step 2 is the centrifuge strength. To be honest, I was surprised because the first and second steps I did at the highest centrifuge setting. Dumb move? I don't know...but my scarf is just fine. I am surprised at how strong silk is (this is the twill, again).
Then I just dried by rolling in a towel. I luckily didn't need to even iron because it was completely wrinkle free post roll once dry. And that's that.
I will admit to being INCREDIBLY nervous as I had never done this before. I ate 2 pints of ice cream during the process.But really the worst that could happen was that it didn't turn out well. And I wasn't wearing it anyway. I figured if the color was rubbish I could always try to do another attempt with another color but thankfully didn't have to.
Hope this long post helps...if anyone else tries this, I'd love to see the results.
By the way, the other large scarf I threw in together with the H scarf was a 140 cashmere silk mix (not H) that I didn't like and I wouldn't have minded losing. It survived, is evenly dyed but it is not nice. It got all nubby. So don't do this with your cashmere mixes! Stick to the silk twills. Oh, and after you do the final step, run a wash in your machine at the highest setting without anything in it just to make sure all the dye is gone so that your next laundry load is not destroyed...just to make sure, the first load that'll go in there will consist of black clothes only!
Hope this helps
My first attempt at a lindy and kelly bag.
Hi! These are really adorable! May I ask what type / brand of clay you use and does it get eventually get hard or remains soft?
Thank you so much in advance!!!
I assume the question was aimed for me. It doesn't stain it BUT heed my advice: after you're done, run a (longer) wash at the highest temperature with detergent but without anything in the machine. Just to make sure. There were no stains, machine is fine. But left over dye particles may be a risk to future loads. My machine is newer (I did this process now in two different machines), so it has a clean machine function that really gets into all the crevices. If you've got that - do it. And still, after the fact, around the door - the rubber - fan it open (it's usually a bit like a harmonica) and make sure there isn't some dye that got in there. It won't stain your machine but it could get on to future loads. So far, I've been safe. I also think it wouldn't be prudent of the dye producers to create a dye that would inevitably stain a machine...they'd have too many claims. The dye is created to "attach" to textiles.
Went on a bit of a colouring bender...This was a target for a while. I love this scarf but it was just too icy. Left is before, right is after. It's hard to somehow capture the new colour accurately but it's a "milky tea" brown, the bottom right photo of the detail is pretty spot on to how it looks in real life. Couldn't be happier. I didn't like the choices they had that year - and there was a tabac background but this works far better. Dans L'Atelier de Robert Dallet.
Have to admit I was nervous because I was dreading losing any detail. Lost nothing and can't wait to have an occasion to wear it.
Collections Imperiales - it is a gorgeous scarf but the original issue was either lots of colours or BW. I went for BW but somehow it wasn't in my rotation. Dyed it a medium jeans blue, though again hard to capture (I do not know why - natural light / good camera). I think after washing and ironing they may reflect more light. But now it's thoroughly modern and more wearable. It was fussy before. Left before/right after.
I found a good dye with more variety than the typical Dylon I've been able to find until now. It's called Aybel. They're online only though I believe they ship to NL, Belgium, UK, France and Italy. They are from Turkey. But they sincerely have a lot of variety, in case you weren't finding exactly what you wanted with Dylon (in Europe) or Rit (in the US).
The more I do them, the better I feel about it. I still get really nervous but sincerely can recommend doing this with a scarf you love but don't wear, but would if the colours were different.
Have to admit I was nervous because I was dreading losing any detail. Lost nothing and can't wait to have an occasion to wear it.
Collections Imperiales - it is a gorgeous scarf but the original issue was either lots of colours or BW. I went for BW but somehow it wasn't in my rotation. Dyed it a medium jeans blue, though again hard to capture (I do not know why - natural light / good camera). I think after washing and ironing they may reflect more light. But now it's thoroughly modern and more wearable. It was fussy before. Left before/right after.
I found a good dye with more variety than the typical Dylon I've been able to find until now. It's called Aybel. They're online only though I believe they ship to NL, Belgium, UK, France and Italy. They are from Turkey. But they sincerely have a lot of variety, in case you weren't finding exactly what you wanted with Dylon (in Europe) or Rit (in the US).
The more I do them, the better I feel about it. I still get really nervous but sincerely can recommend doing this with a scarf you love but don't wear, but would if the colours were different.
Reviving this thread - hoping that members can make suggestions for dying my Hermes Les Clefs in the classic gold, white & black. Although I bought this cw because it WAS classic - in reality white is anathema to my colouring (a costly but valuable lesson learned).
Thus I never wear it and would like to try dip-dying it rather than consigning (since it is a classic but they are a dime a dozen for reselling). I would appreciate any colour suggestions - I like purples & blues but would really like to try chartreuse if possible but not sure that the scarf wouldn't just term muddy overall. Before:
Thus I never wear it and would like to try dip-dying it rather than consigning (since it is a classic but they are a dime a dozen for reselling). I would appreciate any colour suggestions - I like purples & blues but would really like to try chartreuse if possible but not sure that the scarf wouldn't just term muddy overall. Before:
A good thing to keep in mind is most dyes available to consumers have their colour result pegged to cotton. Silk will take on significantly less pigment, rendering a lighter result. The black border will remain black, but will likely have an overcast from whichever color you use. Same for very dark details in the scarf. Then come the yellow keys...and that's tricky. Mostly it is color theory...red + yellow = orange, etc. But Hermes yellows seem to be quite powerful. The white will clearly grab whichever color. Chartreuse may be a difficult color to achieve, also because of the yellow keys and possibly requiring you to mix several dyes together to get a true chartreuse. I'm no mixologist, but some people are more daring. Which part of the world are you in? Or which dyes would you use, possibly easier to look at what is available in terms of dyes. If in Europe, most likely there's Dylon (if you like purple, Plum Red is a great colour; see my Psyche for how that turned out IRL). There's another (small independent) brand I have discovered with more options but not sure they post to wherever you are.
That is a good point about dyes being usually designed for cotton. I haven't bought anything from Dharma Trading in at least a decade, but they have historically been a great resource for silks and dyeing silks: https://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dyes-for-dyeing-silk-wool-nylon.html?lnav=dyes.html
Thanks for your reply & in-depth analysis.
I am in N.A. so have had (in the past not checked recently) access to Rit and Dylon. I have checked Rit site and they have a dye formula that is good for natural fibers - which they list as cotton, linen, silk, etc. There's a different formula for polyester. I see from the Dylon site that they don't seem to include dying silk (but since you did it with your scarf & are happy with results it will work). I agree that to get chartreuse will probably be tricky, although the Rit site has a huge range of greens so maybe would not have to mix if I was determined to go with it. I also like purple so night be my best bet. I suppose at the end of the day I just have to choose a colour, "grid my loins" & go for it!
The Dharma Trading site has a lot of good information. They do sell dyes specifically for silk & wool, which are protein based natural fibers. There is a color shift if you use dyes targeted to cellulose based natural fibers like cotton, linen, hemp, and rayon. Readily available Fit dyes are union dyes and contain a mix of dyes for both cellulosic and protein based fibers.
If you are shooting for chartreuse, I think if you go with something blue, the gold areas might end up in that direction.
It will be an adventure! Gird your loins and go for it!
If you are shooting for chartreuse, I think if you go with something blue, the gold areas might end up in that direction.
It will be an adventure! Gird your loins and go for it!