Lately, I have been doing lots of dyeing of garments at Lemon Fresh. Bridesmaid dresses, fur stoles, winter coats, men's dress shirts; they have all been on the project list since the beginning of 2011.
I like dyeing projects, probably because I always enjoy a challenge and I enjoy doing something that not many others will attempt to do for their customers.
Not every garment is a good candidate for dyeing to a different color, however. I often tell customers who are inquiring that "Dyeing is an art, not a science". I am good at it, and I usually have a pretty good idea how something will turn out, but there are definitely no guarantees. Here are a few guidelines:
1. Natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool, silk) will generally dye much easier than synthetic fibers. However, I do usually have good success with lightweight polyester fibers, such as chiffon.
2. You will be happier if you aim for a color range in the final product rather than a very specific shade.
3. Have patience! Give us 2-3 weeks for a dyeing project.
4. The most successful projects are when you are trying to dye to a darker color rather than lighter!
Do you have something you're thinking about having dyed? I am generally at our 8th Street plant on Fridays from 8 am - 2 pm. Stop in and let's chat!
...Tami aka. The Laundry Girl
