How do you dye a hoodie black while leaving in white areas?

Answer 1

With time and washing, a black garment can fade so it is no longer the original shade of black. You can re-dye the garment using craft dyes purchased at craft retail stores to restore the original black color. There are some tips you will want to know before you re-dye your garment.

First check the tag on your garment. A hoodie is most likely 100% cotton, but your hoodie may contain lycra, spandex, or other fibers. Make sure that the dye you purchase will work on the fibers listed on the garment's tag.

For dark or bright colors, use a more concentrated solution of dye. Twice the recommended amount of dye will get you a better result. If using Rit Dye, a popular and widely available brand, use a whole bottle of black liquid dye in 3 gallons of HOT water. Adding 1 cup of salt to Rit Dye will help achieve a darker black as well.

The longer you soak your garment in the dye bath, the darker color you will achieve. You will get dye penetration in a few seconds, but longer is better. Commercial dyes require times of 30 minutes or longer.

Once your garment has been dyed, rinse it out as completely as possible, then wash it according to the instructions on the dye package. Most dyes require washing in a washing machine on the maximum water fill level, using laundry detergent, and a second rinse cycle. Wash the garment only with other garments that have been dyed in the same batch, then dry in the dryer.

If your garment has printed areas, embroidered areas, or other areas that you want to keep free of dye, you will need to find an appropriate resist to keep the dye off. There are several options, you will need to determine which will work best for your garment.

Elmer's blue gel glue works well as a resist. It must be the blue gel glue (not the white school glue or the glitter glue). Apply the glue to the areas that you want to keep free of dye. Allow the glue to dry overnight. You can dye the following day. Garments using a glue resist should not be dyed in hot water, they should be dyed in warm water. The glue will begin to dissolve in the water, and take in dye. Glue resist generally allows a dye time of 10 minutes or less.

There are also dye resist products you can purchase that are designed specifically to resist dye. Use according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Another way to apply a resist is to use wood, clamps, string, or rubber bands to squeeze the area, which will resist the dye. Similar to a tightly bunched-up sock being washed and coming out dirty in the areas the water was unable to reach, the pressure applied to the area will keep the dye from intruding. Use metal mason jar lids clamped tightly over an embroidered crest, for example, to keep the dye from reaching the embroidery.

You may want to try both resist methods - a glue resist combined with a pressure resist - to keep the un-dyed area more secure.

When using a resist, keep it in place through the dying and rinsing process. Only remove the resist once you have thoroughly rinsed the garment, and the water runs clear. After removing the resist, immediately transfer the garment to the washing machine.

Dabbing the garment with dye will be unlikely to provide a satisfactory result. When dabbing on the dye, it is applied unevenly, and for varying time periods. This will likely result in blotchy dark areas. Dye is also likely to wick into the areas that you wish to keep dye-free.

When using dye, be sure to follow all safety precautions, wear gloves, and clean your work area immediately following your dying session.