Dying jeans

[8thsinner]

I managed to pick up a bargain pair of nubuck jeans the other day.

It's probably about 5oz or so, pretty heavy duty, and probably chrome tanned.

At the minute they are a dark brown colour, which is not a bad colour, but I don't really have clothes that match them, so I want to dye them black.

Problem is, I have no idea what sort of dye would suit this material and finish, being nubuck...would it need to soak for a week or so?

Help please.

[cowgirlrae]

I managed to pick up a bargain pair of nubuck jeans the other day.

It's probably about 5oz or so, pretty heavy duty, and probably chrome tanned.

At the minute they are a dark brown colour, which is not a bad colour, but I don't really have clothes that match them, so I want to dye them black.

Problem is, I have no idea what sort of dye would suit this material and finish, being nubuck...would it need to soak for a week or so?

Help please.

I used to dye show chaps all the time, I often bought excellent and very expensive custom chaps that were no longer fashionable color wise or stained and sold for a huge discount, I washed and dyed them and resold them for a good profit.

Liquid rit dye is the dye I used, sometimes I dyed to the same color family, pink to burgundy, or sky blue to navy, and sometimes just went black.

For black I used 2 bottles and the amount of water for one bottle, place article in a large tub of luke warm water, I never used the washer method, but agitated them in a large tub, or plastic trashcan, something that holds 20 gallons or so, and a paddle from a fence slat.

Drying is important and don't rush it, using the dryer on cold tumble is helpful to keep them soft too, sometimes I used the fabric softener, sometimes I didnt and sometimes it didnt seem to make a difference , it can be variable.

I'm sure you will be satisfied, part of the secret is to make sure they are fully rinsed and any exces dye is removed. Worse case will be dye rubbing onto your skin.

DYE will stain.... I only state the obvious because my girlfriend absentmindedly pulled out a pair of chaps from dying with her hands, she thought she could immediately rinse her hands off and would be OK..... well, the following weekend 4 days later she had lovely blue hands......

read more here, dye chaps 1 dye chaps 2,

Edited January 23, 2010 by cowgirlrae

[8thsinner]

Thanks for the info. sounds good and cheap and the links are good too. Exactly what I wanted.

I never would have thought these could be machine washed too, if they act anything like suede splits which I suppose they should.

I'll be ordering this stuff on wednesday. And with any luck next weekend wearing them out..and showing before and after pics so other people can see how it went.

Thank you kindly.

[8thsinner]

Do you know any good cheap suppliers for this in the uk. I can find it for four dollars a bottle in us but will not deliver uk. Or i can find it in the uk for 7pound a bottle. I don't like the prices i am finding all that much for obvious reasons.

[cowgirlrae]

Do you know any good cheap suppliers for this in the uk. I can find it for four dollars a bottle in us but will not deliver uk. Or i can find it in the uk for 7pound a bottle. I don't like the prices i am finding all that much for obvious reasons.

Sorry I can't help there, perhaps there is a fabric and craft store, maybe ask them about alternatives?, maybe a yarn and wool shop or club would have dye options?, maybe you can pool with someone and share the dye? most all the dye solution will be wasted after one project, with plenty for many other garments and projects.

Maybe you can dye everything you own????

Do you have access to craigslist in the UK?, maybe worthy of a crafters wanted post.

Maybe you can buy a matching shirt at the thrift store and have a new brown outfit?

You can try the dye powder, for your project it should work as well, may be cheaper. I'd be willing to go ahead with the powder for a project like yours. Just make sure it us strong enough.