Is it possible to dye a cord coat?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I have a Boden corduroy coat. I suppose it’s a sort of trench coat shape? With a belt. It suits my shape and it’s useful for spring/autumn, however, combined with my rather unruly brown hair and pink umbrella I look a bit like Hagrid in it. It has done what Corduroy does best, and has faded in places so generally does look a bit tatty.

It’s 100% cotton, but lined with polyester. It’s a sort of dark teal colour with a purple/pink lining. If I was to dye it say, dark blue, would the dye colour the cotton but not the polyester? Or should I just cut my losses? I can’t really afford an alternative, but I can’t really continue to wear it as it is.

It’s like this, but green

You could dye it, but consider a couple of things, from the top of my head. Where it is now uneven in colour, it may dye patchy. Also, IME thread often dyes a different way to the material, so you start off with matching thread, but not afterwards. It may be worth it if you are not going to continue to wear it, but it looks like it will probably need a couple of packets of dye, assuming you are doing it yourself.

Thanks spongebob I had not considered the thread, but I suppose I need to asses how it would look with the original teal thread on a blue coat? Unless the thread is cotton too, then would it take the colour?

The thread will almost certainly be polyester so the stitching, button holes etc won't take the dye and you'll get a two-tone effect. It can sometimes look ok but it's unpredictable. I normally only dye things a couple of shades deeper so it's not too noticeable.

And yes, if the colour's uneven now, it will probably dye uneven too.

Then again of you're not going to wear it as it is, you've nothing much to lose.

It’s not so much uneven, as faded all over. I bought it second hand and it’s probably been washed by the seller. So whereas it was probably once a deep colour, it’s now a bit ‘washed out’. I think I might try it, nothing really to lose as you say. Any recommendations for dye products? I’ve used Dylon before.

I have used Dylon, get the machine wash one. Weigh the coat first though (dry) to check how much you'll need. Then come back and show us!

I've only ever used Dylon - don't actually know any other. I occasionally get uneven patches with it and it doesn't always come out the colour I expected but that's because it reacts with the colour of the garment. But I quite like not knowing what I'm going to end up with!

That’s why I thought I’d go navy blue, hoping it wouldn’t look too awful on top of the teal.

I will definitely come back and show you! Thanks everyone for your advice!

Ok, you’ve all convinced me! I’m doing it!!

Fingers crossed for you...