Name: Ann
Message: Do you know if I could possibly dye a large cream sofa cover brown. It is made from 70% cotton and 30% polyester. I would like it all to be the same colour. If at all possible could you also tell me which dyes to use and also let me know where I can purchase them from? 

Yes, this should be possible, if your sofa cover is washable, and if there is no stain-resistant coating on the fabric, which would resist the dye. The 30% of the fiber which is polyester will not dye (the requirements for dyeing polyester make it impractical for dyeing large items at home), but the 70% of the fiber which is cotton should be dyeable, and that will be enough.

It is important to use a cool water dye only. A hot water dye, such as all-purpose dye, requires temperatures which may shrink that cover, possibly making it too tight for the sofa. The best type of dye to use would be a fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX dye. You can mail-order this type of dye from most of the companies listed on my page of Dye Suppliers around the world. (Here is a direct link to a brown Procion MX dye at Fiber-arts.com.)

The easiest way to dye something a solid color is in the washing machine; see "How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?". Otherwise, you must dye in a large enough container that the fabric can move freely, and you must stir it constantly.


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