r/dyeing • u/c_throughh • 1d ago
How do I dye this? wedding guest help!!
Hi, so I am attending a wedding in two weeks and recently realised the intended dress I was going to wear is far too big. The only dress I have that fits is an old prom dress, and because of the deep red colour I don't know if it’s acceptable to wear to a wedding. My family is not traditional, but I would hate to wear something with bad omens attached. Realistically I would like to dye this to a deeper purple maybe, and would like advice on how to/ if it's possible to dye. The theme is best dressed, and if people think that it's fine as is then I will leave it.
13
u/st_aranel 1d ago
In my culture, the only reason not to wear a red dress to a wedding would be if that's the color the bridesmaids were wearing, and you didn't want to be mistaken for one. I can't speak to whether or not it would be an issue in your culture. You'll need to talk to someone who knows the context.
The first rule of dyeing is that you should never attempt to dye something you can't afford to ruin. There is always a chance.
The second rule is that you need to know what the fabric is made of. The stretch satin on that website appears to be 100% polyester. This is...not very encouraging. Polyester is not easy to dye.
If you want to give it a try, you will need to buy a dye that is specifically intended for polyester, like Rit DyeMore or iDye Poly. You'll need a HUGE pot where it can move freely, and you'll need to keep it at nearly boiling for about an hour while you stir it constantly. Dye is toxic so the pot can't be used for food every again. There is a chance the heat will alter the feel of the fabric and may damage the stretch. The thread probably won't take dye at all.
I would not try it.
7
u/LankySandwich 1d ago
I'm guessing cus the screenshot is JJ's house that you're aussie or kiwi? I'm also aussie, and if the wedding isn't from another culture where different rules apply, then I see absolutely no reason why red would be an off-limits colour, unless the bride or groom has specifically said that it is.
2
u/c_throughh 1d ago
yeah i'm a kiwi, i saw no problem with wearing red until one of my friends said that it was insane to wear red to a wedding.
6
u/DoctorDefinitely 1d ago
One. Are they always correct about everything they say? Get a second opinion.
3
u/AussieKoala-2795 1d ago
Australian who has also attended weddings in NZ. Red is fine. And this dress is polyester so will be hard to dye. Just add a patterned scarf or pashmina as your cover up.
2
u/BreadfruitTasty 1d ago
I’ve heard you wear it if you believe the wedding won’t last but I’ve not heard that said by anyone under the age of seventy
3
u/catslikepets143 1d ago
You’re going to need to find out what type of satin this dress is made from. There is cotton satin, silk satin & polyester satin & those all have different processes & different types of dyes to use.
So it’s possible, but you need more information about the fabric.
I don’t know anything about if wearing a certain color as a guest is inappropriate but i can tell you that if the shade of your dress is like the picture provided, no one will say anything as your dress is maroon, not red.
3
1
u/drindrun 1d ago
gosh i’m assuming the bride and groom are friends or one is family member, or friends of your partner, or whatever. why don’t you just ask if this dress is fine for what they picture, before going to so much trouble? i’m sure they are busy but it could be a quick ask-and answer
1
u/c_throughh 1d ago
i'm not actually close to the bride at all, she's my cousin but i rarely talk to that side of the family. nothing against them, im the youngest in the family and theyre all 30+. i dont exactly have the means to reach out and ask. im assuming i was offered an invite to the wedding because family is family i guess.
4
u/drindrun 1d ago
ok, if you find it more difficult to get this cousin’s approval via family members who would know how to contact her, than to try and dye a polyester gown, you know best.
“satin” is not a fiber content (shame on the seller for just saying “satin,” it is almost certainly 100% poly satin otherwise they would be bragging about the fiber content) so chances are high that this is going to be AWFUL to try and dye, and on a fancy dress, there’s a good chance that the texture and drape will be compromised by the high heat and never look the same after the process, even if the colour turns out well
considering the hassle and the stuff you need to buy (dye, a big dyepot, etc) maybe you should just take that money and put it towards having the other dress that’s too big, altered to fit you
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Our wiki is currently under construction however: there's a good chance your question has been answered in a previous post.
If you are dyeing cellulose fibres (cotton, hemp, linen, ramie, flax, nettle, rayon, bamboo, tencel, plants generally, etc.), you will need a fiber reactive dye.
If you are dyeing a protein fiber (wool, alpaca, llama, Angora, mohair, feathers, animal stuff generally, etc.), you will need an acid dye.
Leather is dyed with leather specific dyes such as those from Angelus.
Silk will dye with either acid or fiber reactive dyes but will yield different results depending on which you use.
Polyester can sometimes be dyed. It can only be dyed with synthetic specific dyes such as iDye Poly or RIT Dyemore. It usually cannot achieve a dark or rich colour at home. Acrylic usually cannot be dyed at all.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.