<p>We have dyed lacrosse heads before–using a camp stove, RIT dye and VERY hot water.</p>
<p>Has anyone ever tried to darken favorite jeans that are too faded?</p>
<p>I am thinking of trying the campstove/high heat method since once before the washer method didnt work well…a lot of dye ran…and my new washer/dryer got stained light blue permanently.</p>
<p>Thoughts… I just love these jeans and this jacket–however they are faded a bit and a darker wash would be better.</p>
<p>Please try and let us know how it works. My favorite dark wash are fading.</p>
<p>Unless your denim is 100% cotton, it may not take the re-dyeing well. (Polyester, rayon and/or spandex will inhibit dye absorption.) Check your labels.</p>
<p>Also use a dye fixative after your hot water dye bath to help minimize the new color running. Especially important for dark colors since they wash out more readily.</p>
<p>For darker colors, you may need twice the amount of RIT dye suggested by the packet. Blacks are especially problematic. Don’t know anything about navy specifically as I’ve never dyed with navy. But I do know that with used/worn fabrics dye uptake will probably not be uniform across the piece.</p>
<p>YMMV.</p>
<p>P.S. I’ve never dyed denim, but I have dyed sweatshirts, T-shirts, cotton battenburg lace and cotton yardage for quilts. I never ever, ever dye in my washing machine.</p>
<p>Thanks.
I didn’t think about using 2 packages…I will do that…</p>
<p>also what fixative would you use… It calls for using a lot of salt…</p>
<p>My son just got a new pair of really dark wash jeans over spring break. I wanted to make sure that they were washed alone before he brought them back to school and turned the entire load dark blue. Then I decided to throw in any jeans around that we wanted to darken up a little to see if it would work and it did. The jeans all looked much newer. I dried them too, hoping it would set the color. So far so good.</p>
<p>RIT makes a fixative, but it’s not very good.</p>
<p>Salt is NOT a fixative! Neither is vinegar.</p>
<p>I’d recommend Retayne (usually available at quilt stores, Hancock Fabrics or JoAnne’s or online). </p>
<p>And if you’re willing to hunt around, instead of RIT (which I’ve found doesn’t do dark colors all that well) if you can find Procion MX-type dye. These are fiber-reactive cool water (No boiling!!) dyes suitable for all plant-based fabrics. These will give more control over your results than RIT. </p>
<p>Most quilt store sell procion type dyes; sometimes you can find them at WalMart or Amazon</p>
<p>[Procion</a> MX 4-Color Dye Set - Walmart.com](<a href=“http://www.walmart.com/ip/Procion-MX-4-Color-Dye-Set-with-Soda-Ash/17337929]Procion”>http://www.walmart.com/ip/Procion-MX-4-Color-Dye-Set-with-Soda-Ash/17337929)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Jacquard-Procion-Fiber-Reactive-navy/dp/B0006IJZSO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363731537&sr=8-1&keywords=procion+dye+navy[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Jacquard-Procion-Fiber-Reactive-navy/dp/B0006IJZSO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363731537&sr=8-1&keywords=procion+dye+navy</a></p>
<p>The downside to procion dyes is you have to first wash your garment in soda ash (washing soda) to prep the fabric fibers to accept the dye. But most dye kits come with a package of washing soda included. Procion dyes are very stable and resist washing out.</p>
<p>Jacquard is one manufacturer of procion dyes and makes a range of dark blues–including navy, midnight and dark cobalt.</p>
<p>P.S. Make sure you really want to dye your jeans. The new dye job will likely make your fabric look ‘flat’–i.e. uniform in color. Denim has white warp threads which give the fabric its characteristic two-tone, textured appearance. After dying, your warp threads and weft threads will be the same color.</p>
<p>Hi</p>
<p>Well re-dyed the jacket…
used a very large deep stock pot.
hot hot water and 1 bottle denium dye plus the salt.
added wet jacket and soaked/stirred it easily 30 minutes.</p>
<p>It came out well, and the top stitching etc stayed the deep yellow/goldenrod color.</p>
<p>Rinsed several times in the machine. </p>
<p>I expect it will “run a tad” a few more times. Looks better as though it is well worn and soft, it had gotten just too light</p>
<p>WayOutwestMom</p>
<p>I will try your method for the jeans…I only got back here after having bought the dye and dyed this jacket today.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>