How Do I Dye My Sweatshirt But Not the Emblem?

Joan
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April 29, 20100 found this helpful

I would just pass it off as a tie-dyed shirt. If you have to have more bleach spots on it to this, that is what I would do. I have never had much success dyeing items that had bleach spots on them, they don't end up the same color as the rest of the item.

lynda

April 30, 20100 found this helpful

I'd forget the dying and go with bleaching all over. I had nothing to lose when I bleached an olive sweatshirt because of bleach spots. All but the stitching bleached and it is absolutely lovely, very classy and I found that I had discovered a new lime'ish-yellow that gets compliments each time I wear it.

The bleached spot(s) AND the emblem might do well to "paint" until saturated with a small artist's brush using Scotchguard water repellent (spray outside into the lid to gather a puddle of it for front and back of the emblem and spot(s)).

Then, let it dry a full 24 hrs. before bleaching, using no detergent until you achieve an even lightening. Even if the Scotchguard washes out as a result, you will have given it all a couple of final rinses.

Wash as usual only after you have achieved a similar lightening as is the spot(s), your guideline. Be extra careful not to put too much Scotchguard on your brush or q-tip so you stay within the spot edges, keeping in mind that the liquid Scotchguard might run if you have your brush or q-tip too full.

Test it on a rag or thickly folded paper towel first to get the hang of it and to see how much bleeds into the non-bleached areas around the q-tip or brush size.

Think back to the amount of bleach that you likely used in a washer load that originally bleached it? And the temp of the bleach at the time. Was the bleach added to a dry shirt or wet one? Think it through very well first.

Or was it an accidental drip? If an accident, was it full strength? If diluted, try to remember the approx. mixture/dilution and use that same formula, temp. time, again.

The best you can hope for is an all-over color like the spot(s). The worst is that you may have to dry the whole thing, Scotchguard the spot(s) again, and repeat the process until you succeed.

I remember that I still have a slight variation difference in color from the spots I had, but when the whole garment is lighter, it's a MUCH less noticeable difference that only I can tell.

Good luck and God bless you. " - "

emmamamie

May 2, 20101 found this helpful

You might be able to use the Batik method:

Melt clear paraffin wax in a double boiler filled with water in the bottom.
Paint over your design with the wax. Make sure the wax penetrates the fabric completely (you should see it on the back of the cloth).
Where the wax goes, there will be no dye.
Let the wax cool.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves.
Prepare dyes or inks as suggested by the manufacturer. Use cool dyes so they won't melt the wax onto the fabric.
Dye the material. Immerse it for about 20 seconds.
Rinse it in cool water to remove excess dye. If the color isn't dark enough, dye it again.