Dyeing jeans ...

[nevertrustaherdofcows]

Do you think I could successfully dye some unworn jeans made 55% of cotton, and the rest 'modal' and silk?

They are indigo and I desperately want them to be black like the rest of my wardrobe

No no no no no. I tried to dye 100% cotton jeans black and it didn't work at all. Firstly, the final colour was browny black (started off as wine red). Secondly, whilst the jeans were 100% cotton, the threads weren't, so they didn't dye. If yours isn't even 100% cotton to start with, there's no chance. I wish I hadn't tried dyeing my jeans.

I don't mind about the threads but I don't want to end up with patchy or grey fabric

Not sure whether sending them to a dry cleaner to do would be better than me trying to do it myself. I've read all the stuff about washing them first, rinsing after; just feel unconvinced.

I've dyed jeans black several times and it has worked really well. As PP says the threads might not dye but the fabric should. I would recommend the Dylon washing machine dye, and make sure you read the instructions in advance and follow them to the letter (especially wetting the fabric first (I usually just pop them on a quick wash first to be extra safe), putting the dye in the bottom of the machine, and adding the full amount of salt if necessary (only some types need it). Let us know how you get on!

I used Dylon and it said for best results use 100% cotton. I hadn't realised dry cleaners dyed clothes too, but wouldn't they have the same issues?

Go for it if you're not bothered about the jeans.

It is synthetic fibres that are tricky to dye. Silk and modal are both natural fibres and so should take up dye in the same way as cotton

Dark colours don’t tend to take the dye as well..I’ve tried dyeing navy stuff and it stays the same colour.

Aha I didn't know that about modal

I have googled and modal is semi synthetic unfortunately

I’d certainly give it a go, I’ve dyed viscose, rayon, silk, modal, all fine.

@dorothy001

No no no no no. I tried to dye 100% cotton jeans black and it didn't work at all. Firstly, the final colour was browny black (started off as wine red). Secondly, whilst the jeans were 100% cotton, the threads weren't, so they didn't dye. If yours isn't even 100% cotton to start with, there's no chance. I wish I hadn't tried dyeing my jeans.

I think you just needed more dye in the wash, or a second dye. I’ve dyed all colours of jeans black and they’ve always gone nice and black

But I used an entire pot of this for a single pair of jeans, and followed instructions closely. I don't think I'm alone in having this experience either

I’ve redyed black jeans a few times that have faded a bit using a machine Dylon dye and they were absolutely fine

@dorothy001

But I used an entire pot of this for a single pair of jeans, and followed instructions closely. I don't think I'm alone in having this experience either

Try it again and you might find it works this time. Stitching will pretty much never dye but if your issue was that they didn’t go dark enough then just dye them again

Thanks all. I can feel a dye purchase coming on

I've used black dye to pep up black jeans and it works well but never tried it with indigo denim. I can't speak about modal but I've dyed viscose, which I believe is from the same 'family', a number of times and it's always been fine. Just bear in mind that, if you're not redyeing to the same colour, there's always the chance of an unexpected result, and also that, in addition to the stitching, some of the inside 'workings' e.g. pocket linings and zip guard might not take the dye either.

Forgot to say, indigo denim isn't normally even in colour so you might also get unevenness when it's dyed. If it does, a second pack of dye might help although I've never tried.

Thanks