Dyeing curtains question

[Snowie2]

Hi has anyone ever done this if so any tips ? I plan to dye with machine dylon brand. Thanks !

[wowfudge]

What are the curtains made of? Only certain fibres will take dye. Other than that, make sure you use sufficient packs of dye for the weight of the fabric - you can use up to six packs in one wash. However many packs of dye you use, you only need 500g of salt as a fixative. You may to dye each curtain of a pair separately, but make sure you use the same amount of dye for each one.

Have you ever washed the curtains in question? If not then measure them then wash them and measure them again to see if they shrink. No point dyeing them if you find they then don't fit where you want to put them. Also, probably worth letting the hems down before dyeing them in case you do need to adjust them now or in the future - you'll then have even colour, which you might not get where the fabric is folded over.

I've just dyed an old cotton curtain with Dylon because I intend to use the fabric to make something else. If I were doing it again, I would probably use two packs of dye - the colour has taken well and it's not something I am too bothered about, but I think a better density of colour would have been achieved with two packs.

[Snowie2]

They're 50%cotton 50% polyester currently beige & I hate them ! Would probably have to put one in at a time.

[Pinkfizzy]

Polycotton will dye much fainter than colour on top of the box.

You will likely also have polyester stitching, which won't take dye at all, so check whether stitching will show at all.

[Snowie2]

Yes they have delightful square stitchings all the way through. Oh I hate them even more now :)

[wowfudge]

Well you're likely to get a lighter colour than on the packet with polycotton, but if you hate them anyway, what do you have to lose? If the squares are a pattern, they're perhaps more likely to contain cotton too. It's the seam and hem thread which probably won't take the dye.

[Snowie2]

Thanks i wonder can you get the dye in Tesco ? Don't mind experimenting as the sight of them depresses me :)

[BikeRunSki]

I thought about doing this oncd. In the end I realised it was cheaper to buy some new, plain coloured curtains from Argos.

[Orangeanddemons]

You can buy polyester dye, but that won't ake on the cotton.

I teach about the science behind dyeing, and know quite a bit about it..

My advice is to not bother

[wowfudge]

I can't vouch for Tesco selling dye. Dunelm and John Lewis sell Dylon. Try your local ironmongers too.

[Snowie2]

Problem is I have the old curtain rails not the eyelet ones which limits choice of cheap new curtains !