Name: Rochelle
Message: I've purchased some inexpensive stretch satin gloves -- lycra spandex, I suppose.  Can I dye these to match wine-colored bridesmaids dresses and what type of dye and dye-method would I use?

No, you cannot. Dyeing a fabric that contains 100% spandex is not a job for the novice. Your gloves may contain only 10% spandex, but the remainder of the fiber content is probably polyester. A mixture of spandex and polyester cannot be dyed at all, because the boiling required to dye the polyester will destroy the spandex.

Gloves that are 90% or more cotton and 10% or less spandex can be easily dyed with cool water fiber reactive dyes. Gloves that consist mostly of nylon can be dyed with acid dyes, though it is necessary to be careful with the heating that is required for setting acid dyes because excess heat will ruin spandex.

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