has anyone dyed and improved black cotton (worky) trousers

[TomatoSorbetWoman]

i have these and love - but arent as black as they were
should i dye them again?
www.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=000772541001

This is new I think. Called black velvet or summat. Still dylon

Aw shucks thanks Coddo

I do think life would be FUN if I lived next door to you.

The all in one Dylon that I linked to above (called Velvet Black) is def not greeny black. Works really well. Last time I used it I did a cotton dress, slouchy cotton bag/sack thing, socks and a cotton cardi with one pack. All came out true black, follow the instructions and they don't bleed or stain your washing machine/subsequent washes.

I love the all in one velvet black. I redye my leggings, long sleeved t shirts, jeans and skirts with great success. Just follow the instructions carefully, and do dark stuff on the couple of washes after, or clean your machine out by wiping the seals and a service wash.

Ta all

I'm wondering whether to dye a pair of harems I just bought. I didn't read the Internet description very well, and they have a white panel down the sides, but they were bargainous.

They are black, and I think they are viscose mix, so maybe if I dye them dark blue or grey I'll end up dying the stripe but not the trousers....well, that's the theory.

Does viscose dye well?

Exactly what CMOT said - used Velvet Black, inc on stretchy cotton jeans, works beautifully. Dark clothes for the subsequent few washes.

I would have thought that, as a derivative of natural materials (wood), viscose would dye, but maybe it depends on what it's woven w? Example: too much poly in the viscose mix may prevent the dye taking hold? I'd get Googling, someone will have written about this.

Viscose will dye to full strength, but any stitching may not. Check what colour the stitching thread is and keep in mind it may not dye, would be my advice.

It says viscose works fine. Dyeing ahoy

Whoop Whoop. Off to Robert Dyas I go.

A dark grey stripe on my harems will look nicer than white, which is a bit too "sport luxe" for me. Thanks all.

Lol at us all. Will post pics

Would second earlier poster's tip of using laundry marker to colour-in light polyester stitching that will not dye. I've also used indelible felt-tip markers for this, on blue as well as black garments. You need a fairly steady hand, but it works...

Dylon is very good for standard colours. For a wider range of shades, I've also used Procion dyes www.kemtex.co.uk/procionmxdyes.html - they can also be used in a washing machine, but need washing soda plus salt to fix them. The suppliers in the link above have a leaflet with details of method. Easy to use.

It's good advice to wear rubber gloves, whatever brand of dye you use.

Ta all.

Watching this thread for results with great interest! I wonder how blue denim jeans would take to black dye?

I have noticed that black jeans are made of different type of material to blue denim. Even the same style I have in blue and black are very different. The blue ones are much softer and I am tempted to try dying them black. I have so many pairs of blue jeans!

Operation gap trews dying has started.

Machine BLACK AS THE NIGHT

Well. They've find the dye. Now on the normal wash to remove excess. They're VERY BLACK. Thread fine. There is ahem. One black sock in there too now ;)

I'll update after second wash

They've had the dye. I meant

woolite black is good I didn't think it would work but it does. They often have it in 99p shop

This is exciting - a live dyeing thread .

This is what its come to

GREAT RESULT!

I've just put another pair of gap ones in. I'm on a bloody roll