dyeing clothes really dark navy - where to get dye?

[mugOfCoffee]

I dyed a few old white shirts, and a white dress that I was never going to wear, with Dylon dark navy. They all came up a vile shade of hard, bright blue - definitely not dark navy! Added more dye and tried again, but the colour didn't change, so was probably saturated the first time round.

Anyone know how I can turn these clothes a nice dark navy, rather than the sort of dirty dark royal blue they currently are? Where does one get the dye?

The clothes are all linen or cotton btw

Put much much less in the machine. And/or:
Look at cold water linen dyes. You can do this in a bucket outside.

Amazon, John Lewis, Wilko

It also depends on the material. I think cotton takes on more dye, but I'm happy to be corrected.

I agree it could be that you tried to dye too many things together - I know Dylon print a weight guide on the pack but I normally only do one garment at a time, or very occasionally two. But also it's never an exact science because the dye reacts with the colours in the garment (and while I'm not a chemist, I'm pretty sure the white won't be a natural colour). It can lead to very unpredictable results, some good, some bad.

Dylon do a product that strips out the colours and leaves you with a kind of blank canvas which - allegedly - should then take any new colour. I've used it a couple of times and it did work for me but it made the house smell like a chemical plant so make sure all your windows are open.

I’ve dyed lots of things black or navy (re dying faded denim eg) with Dylon machine dye and never had a problem. I ever dyed natural fabric (which sounds like you have too) and did one thing at a time and added the salt.

My wardrobe is entirely navy blue. No kidding. I redye jeans and tshirts all the time and use the Dylon Pod in navy blue. (It includes the salt.) Currently on sale for £4 at Ocado so I'm stockpiling.

It dyes a lovely dark navy, none of your 'French' navy thanks, or royal blue!!!
It must be the fabric/ fibre mix of the items you were trying to dye- check the Dylon instructions. Cotton linen & viscose dye well but polyester/ acrylic/ nylon and mixes including them do not dye well, if at all.

Or, you tried to dye too many clothes with too little dye.
You need one pod per pair of jeans, for example.

likewise, I have dyed a white linen shirt with dylon and it is a very acceptable dark navy, you maybe have a polycotton there

Agree that the content may not have been all cotton etc. However maybe try the navy dye again mixed with a bit of black dye. I’ve dine that before to get a darker colour and it worked

Wilkos!

I love dyeing stuff, and have recently moved on to Procion MX dyes which are much better than Dylon etc. Cold dyes too, so can do in a bucket etc. For small quantities look on eBay, can find 25grams for 3.99, also much better value than Dylon. Gorgeous colours too, have seen several different navy blues

Thanks all. I followed the instructions about weight and type of fabric and the amount of dye, temperatures, etc. It might be that what's sold here (not the UK) as "dark navy" is just not a dark navy as I understand it.

I'll look out the Procion ones. Any other brand suggestions gratefully received!

I used Dylon navy blue in the machine a couple of days ago on a viscose garment and it came out darker than I'd been hoping for. It is quite hit and miss.