Name: cathy
Message: I have a white canvased back throw rug (about 3x6') It is made of a yarn like material that is about 2 or 3" long. I would like to dye this brown to use in my grandson's bedroom. Is there a way I can do this? Thank you.

I cannot tell you whether you can dye this rug, without knowing what fiber it is made of. Cotton, linen, and silk are easy to dye with fiber reactive dyes, and wool can be dyed with acid dye (though it requires heat), but acrylic and polyester rugs cannot be dyed at all easily.

The best way to determine the fiber content of a fabric is by examining the care label. If yours is missing, it might be possible to determine the fiber content using a burn test.

Fabrics.net provides a guide to using the burn test to identify unknown fibers. This test must be performed with care, since of course burning or melting fibers can be quite dangerous, but if you can perform it with care according to the instructions given on that page, you may be able to determine whether the rug is made of natural or synthetic fibers, and whether, if it is natural, it is made of a plant or animal fiber. Essentially, you cannot dye the fiber if it is synthetic, except for nylon, and there is a big difference in dyeing technique between plant and animal fibers.