20 Modern DIY Projects to Dye For | How to Dye Anything!

Over the years, I have gotten really into dyeing fabric: from updating tired linens to saving money on clothes by giving them a fresh new look, I really love a good DIY dye project.  Plus dyeing has to be the easiest craft on the planet - it's such a fun way to dip your toes into the world of DIY.  If you find yourself with extra time this holiday weekend, here are my favorite DIY dye projects from the Dans le Lakehouse archives - plus a bevy of other dye ideas I can't wait to try.

Try... Dyeing Yarn for a Wall Hanging

Whether you're a knitter or a just making a cute wall hanging, don't settle for store bought yarn colors.  Yarn can be so easy to dye!  Dip dye it (like the wall hanging from Brit & Co, below), tie dye it, use natural dyes or a bottle of turquoise Rit - the sky is the limit.

Try... Updating Crocheted Doilies with a Bold New Color

My DIY dyed doilies will be making another appearance this year because they complement wintry tablescapes - and my teal dining room chairs! - so beautifully.  But I have a whole box of vintage doilies, so I've been considering a follow-up project in turquoise or indigo... ( I used Rit dye in teal for these ones).

Try... Updating Old or Discolored Linens with a Fresh New Hue

Once I saw how much more modern and interesting vintage doilies look once they're dyed a fresh new color, I decided to update a vintage white linen table cloth and napkin set with a much more dinner-friendly gunmetal grey hue.  Dye is a great way to make tired, maybe a little discolored or stained, table linens look and feel new for holiday entertaining - or just to complement this year's holiday color palette!

 
Try... Brushing on Dye for a Hand Painted Look

If you want to get a little more hands on with dyeing, try brushing it on to create a one-of-a-kind design with a painterly vibe - it looks perfect on a napkin with modern brass flatware.  Get inspired by this tutorial from Home-ology.

Try... Ice Dyeing Napkins or Pillows for a Watery Handmade Fabric Design

The ultimate set-it-and-forget-it DIY dye project!  Pile up some fabric after soaking it in soda ash, cover it with ice, sprinkle with cold water dye, and just let the ice melt.  It's a DIY so nice, I've tried it twice: see my DIY ice dyed pillows and various color combinations of ice dyed napkins.  

Try... Making a Dyed Dog Leash from Rope

I'm dubious about whether this DIY dog leash would be tough enough for Szuka but if you have a pup on the gentler side, how sweet is this dip dyed rope leash?  Great tutorial from Brit & Co.  

Try... Dyeing Bottle Brush Trees for the Holidays and Beyond

With the holidays approaching, it's time to start thinking about festive tablescapes and mantle decor!  Try a classic bottle brush tree collection and customize it to match your decor with this easy DIY dyed bottle brush tree tutorial.  Snag a pack of bottle brush trees online and give them a bleach bath before dyeing them whatever color you like - or just buy some pale pink frosted bottle brush trees, I won't tell (you've got 19 other projects to try here!).
  

Try... Dyeing Fresh Cut Flowers Pretty Colors

I actually tried this during the summer and dyed a bunch of daisies a deep indigo blue - actually, I did it a few times and kept forgetting to photograph them for a tutorial!  It was such a fun project - kids would love it.  Look how great these roses from hello, Wonderful turned out:

Try... Dyeing Old Clothes to Make Them Feel New

Find a perfect holiday dress or top but it's the wrong color?  Take a stab at dyeing it yourself with this easy tutorial (click over for some trouble shooting tips for the best coverage).

Try... Dyeing a Rug for a Trendy Over-dyed Look

Yup, you can dye rugs at home!  Hide a stain, or just give a thrift store find that gorgeous over-dyed look, with this tutorial from Design Lines Ltd.  Sweet Paul has a lovely turquoise over-dyed rug tutorial too.

Try... Dyeing Jeans Darker to Get the Perfect Wash and Fit

Why is it that the darker the denim, the more dressy it looks?  Deep indigo denims can pass for business casual and even look great with a sparkly top for holiday parties.  If you found the perfect fit - in the wrong hue - just dye them darker!  Read my tutorial for all of the details on dyeing jeans a darker shade.

Try... Making a Hand-Dyed Embroidery Thread Tassel Necklace

This necklace started out as a pile of embroidery thread and jewelry-making supplies.  Learn how to make these delicate tassels from Oh the Lovely Things and hand dye them any color - even ombre! - to make a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind necklace.  Or add hand dyed tassels to a throw pillow or blanket.

Try... Experimenting with Shibori

If anyone is keeping track, shibori dyeing, with a long and rich history and sudden resurgence in popularity, might just go down in history as THE most popular DIY dye project - ever!  There are tons of tutorials out there, but this one from A Beautiful Mess is great for beginners.  After that, you can learn to experiment with different binding techniques - this is an excellent tutorial - and use real indigo, or just stick to rubber bands and Rit dye, either way it will look gorgeous and unique every time (here's a great DIY Indigo dye starter kit)

Try... Whipping up Easy Dip Dyed Napkins

While shibori has taken the lead as the ultimate DIY dye project, sometimes the simplicity of a good dip dyed project just looks right.  From throw pillows to napkins, dip dyeing can lend a watery, lakeside vibe to any home decor piece - plus it's super easy!  Check out my dip dyeing tutorial for trouble shooting tips and tricks and get the scoop on achieving a softer gradient.

Try... Dip Dyeing Anything You Can Get Find

With the basics of dip dyeing mastered, the simple technique need not be limited to fabrics!  Check out this tutorial from I Spy DIY for a cute and quirky dip dyed planter:

These dip dyed wood candlestick holders from Almost Makes Perfect are so pretty too (and you can buy all kinds of unfinished wood candle holders online, if you don't want to make them from scratch):

Try... Dyeing Wood!

Did the DIY above have you thinking, "I never realized you could dye wood"?  Dyed wood can look really amazing.  I've experimented with it (after seeing the image below) and made dyed birch slice coasters in a deep green shade.  I'm planning to experiment some more and share a tutorial (the only trickiness is the moisture + wood, which can ruin a project quickly with warping).

P.S. Have you seen this article about indigo dyed wood applications?  So good.

Try... Experimenting with Dyeing Fabric Naturally

Next on my DIY dye to-do list is experimenting with all natural dyes.  I've already been using purple cabbage as a natural alternative to food coloring, so the next step is to try out some natural dye methods.  Tumeric makes a brilliant, bright yellow (as demonstrated by this great natural dye tutorial from Glitter Guide) but tons of fruits, vegetables - even acorns! - can dye fabric and I can't wait to start experimenting.  There are great resources out there to get started, like this handy guide.     

Try... Capitalizing on Sunny Days with Sun Print Dye Fabric

You need sun, a cyanotype kit, and some pretty leaves and flowers to make your own sun printed fabric with a botanical print (check out this great tutorial from Apartment Therapy).  This was definitely on my summer diy to-do list but I ran out of time so I'm flagging this tutorial and looking forward to long, sunny summer days when I can give it a go!

Try... Taking a Stab at Wax Resist / Batik Dyeing

This might be the longest "been meaning to try this but just haven't" diy dye project for me!  I've wanted to do something like this since seeing kekfestes (the centuries old Hungarian twist on batik dyeing with Indigo dyes) in Hungary way back in the early 2000s during my first trip to Hungary.  This tutorial from A Beautiful Mess is such a pretty, modern spin - and an easy, DIY-able take - on a technique that's thousands of years old.  You just need a simple wax resist crayon like this one.  And this tutorial has tons of tips and tricks too.  A must-try for me - got to finally do this during my winter craft-a-thon.  

Try... Making Those Shoes New Again by Dyeing the Leather

Whoa!  This was news to me: you can dye leather!  I've seen DIY dyed leather boots, a leather sofa refreshed with leather dye and now this gorgeous shoe makeover from Paper & Stitch.  Who else is ready to raid their shoe closet for a DIY shoe dye party?

Yup, you can pretty much dye anything!

Nothing is safe, once you're bitten by the DIY dye bug.  Hopefully this round up of 20 modern DIY dye crafts has inspired you - have I missed a great tutorial?

Let me know in the comments!

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DIY Gun Metal Dyed Table Cloth (Rit Dye vs. iDye)

I absolutely love dyeing things because it's such an easy way to really update a garment or home decor staple.  Over the years, I've logged a bevy of DIY dye projects.  Some of my favorites include: dyeing a dress a deep shade of navy, dyeing a pair of jeans darker, and dyeing a set of crocheted lace doilies for a pretty tablescape.  I did some dip dyeing too!  For almost all of my DIY dye projects, I have used Rit Dye.

I have decided to expand my dyeing repertoire and not only do I have a couple of fancier dye projects planned, I've branched out and started experimenting with different brands of dye.  I had heard that iDye is a better quality fabric dye than Rit, so I recently used a couple of packs on an easy project to test out this new-to-me brand of fabric dye.

I started with this beautiful, cream coloured cotton and rayon damask table cloth, which I inherited:

I loved the table cloth but NO cream or white table linens would ever last a day in my home.  Plus it felt kind of bridal.  I knew its fate: sit in my cupboard for years, until I eventually get rid of my oval table, then sadly discover that no one else in my family has an oval table (it's why I inherited it in the first place), so I'll end up dejectedly donating this sentimental linen to the thrift shops in the hopes that someone else can use it.  I know this because many sentimental, "too good to use" things have met a similar fate so, these days, I'm all about using the good stuff!

I figured that if I dyed the table cloth a darker color, to hide the inevitable wine spills, I'll relax and just enjoy using it. In hindsight, maybe dyeing it burgundy would have been the best bet, but I kept envisioning a deep steel grey.

I ordered some iDye on Amazon, in Gun Metal (grey).  It comes in different formulations, this one was designed for natural fabrics (like cotton, silk, etc.).  There are also iDye formulations for synthetic materials as well (something Rit recently came out with too).

iDye comes in a little cardboard envelope with the instructions printed on the inside.  The dye is in a sort of puck, which is supposedly less messy than powders or bottles, but the outside of my dye packs were covered in powdery residue which immediately dyed my hands before I got the packets open, so I don't consider the packaging a selling feature.

Frankly, having watched too many episodes of Border Security, I'm just surprised that this didn't raise any red flags...

Using iDye is just as easy as Rit.  I opted for the washing machine method (as opposed to stove top):

• Wash the garment/fabric to be dyed to remove sizing
• Fill the washing machine with hot water
• Add the iDye dye packs (I used two) plus 1 cup of non-iodized salt
• Let agitate for a minute
• Add the fabric (make sure it's still wet)
• Let agitate in dye bath for 50-60 minutes (my table linens were in there about 70 minutes total)
• Let the machine finish the cycle
• Dry!

Easy peasy!  I turned on a timer so I knew when to keep re-setting my machine to ensure it was agitated for the hour or so.  In between timer chimes I puttered.  By the time my linens were dyed, I could check off a DIY project and "clean the house" from my to-do list.  Win!  This might be why I like dyeing things so much...

The table cloth (and matching napkins) turned out beautifully!

The colour is a really unusual grey - it's got purple undertones, but sometimes it reads really blue, other times a little more warm.  "Gun metal" is the perfect name for it!  It's one of those colours that really plays with the light, made more interesting by the damask pattern and subtle sheen of the cotton/rayon blend.

The only, tiny issue is that the dye seemed to grab the linens more where the fabric had been folded.  This table cloth has been sitting around, folded, since the 80s, so it might not be an issue with the fabric dye, but the item itself.  I did wash it thoroughly before dyeing, but sometimes there's only so much you can do when fabric starts to show it's age.  When I dyed a shirtdress awhile back, lingering residue from my antiperspirant caused an issue with the dye so I think the best contenders for DIY dye projects are new, freshly laundered items.  Having said that, you'll never notice the slightly darker areas on this table cloth - especially not once it's adorned with plates, flowers, and delicious food!

It's SO gorgeous!  I'm thrilled with the outcome: it looks more modern and the blue/grey hue is perfect in the lakehouse - it complements the teal tweed chairs beautifully and ties in the grey from the nearby plywood topped Ikea floating credenza and grey painted brick fireplace.

I feel emboldened to branch out and try new brands of dye because the colour choices for some of the more "professional" grade dyes are outstanding!

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How to Dye Jeans Darker (+ Dye FAQ)

I mentioned in passing, awhile back, that I had successfully dyed a new pair of jeans darker and I received a lot of questions about the process.  I wore that pair of jeans for almost a year and was so impressed with the results!  I recently dyed another pair and decided that this time I'd share a "before" and "after," along with answering some FAQ about dyeing jeans (at the bottom of this post).

I have been on a weight loss journey since the fall and have lost 25 pounds (and a couple of pant sizes).  I am trying to lose 25 more, so I have been hesitant to spent money on pants - although I need them!  My old jeans have become insanely baggy and frequently droop, pulling my underwear down with them.  Pant shopping isn't easy though, because I don't like when jeans have any whiskering or fading on the front/back of the thighs.  I prefer a simple dark wash but, alas, jeans that fit me aren't the wash I like and the jeans with the wash I like are usually uncooperative and won't zip up.

Not a problem!  I found inexpensive, comfy, skinny jeans at Winner's for only $25 and turned them into a perfect dark wash.  Here's a look at the original finish:

And here's a look at them now:

In this photo, the colour seems lighter than real life and doesn't appear 100% uniform, but they are perfectly uniform and a lovely dark wash now.  I'm so thrilled with how they look!

How to Dye Jeans Darker at Home:

If you're read any of my DIY dye posts, you know that the procedure is really simple and not scary at all - especially if you dye in the washing machine.  Here's the how-to:

• Completely soak the denim (or give them a pre-dye wash)
• Fill the washing machine (or a large basin) with hot water
• Add a cup of salt and fully dissolve
• Pour in one bottle of Rit Dye Black and another bottle of Rit Dye Navy Blue
• Agitate for 30-40 minutes (either re-setting the machine or doing it by hand)
• Rinse and let dry (I line dry to preserve the colour)
• Run the machine through with bleach to remove dye

And now, the Jean Dyeing FAQ:

Did the dye cover the denim evenly?

Yes!  All of the whiskering and fading was covered on both pairs I've dyed, and the result was a uniform hue. 

What dye formula did I use?

The first time I dyed jeans, I used two bottles of black and one bottle of navy.  The result was very inky - I loved it, but it did add to the cost because three bottles was about $12.  This time I used only two bottles and did a 1:1 ratio of navy and black, which resulted in a dark denim blue.  I love the shade and it looks great.  Because these jeans are temporary, I wanted to keep the cost low so I didn't want to purchase three bottle, but if I'm being honest, I preferred the 2:1 (black to navy) ratio because the jeans were really dark - almost black, but with some depth.  I'd call the result a midnight blue.   

How much dye do I need?

I used two bottles for one pair of pants and was happy with the results.  The Rit Dye instructions indicate that one bottle covers 1 pound of clothing, but suggests using more for darker/brighter colours.

Will any colour work?

You can dye denim with any colour but I find that the black/navy combo looks most like a commercial "dark wash" denim.  But you could turn white jeans into teal (do it!) or go for all-black.  Rit Dye even makes a "denim blue" that might be great on its own.  It's a bit of a gamble, though, how dye will look when applied over an already dyed fabric. 

Did the dye cover the stitching as well?

No.  The stitching remained light, so they don't look like they were given at at-home dye bath.  This happened with the dress I dyed as well.

Did it wash out quickly?

No!  I was surprised!  I never had to re-dye the first pair of jeans I dyed and I washed them once or twice a week (no dryer, though).  They faded a bit, but the whiskering didn't come back and they were still a dark wash - they just looked like broken in jeans.  I was really impressed - my dyed dress has barely faded, if at all (although I don't wear that nearly as often as jeans).  

How can I make the colour last longer?

I find that washing my jeans inside out, on cold (preferably using a detergent meant for dark colours), and skipping the dryer helps preserve the colour of dark clothing, whether I've dyed it or bought it that way.  Line drying dark items (out of the sun) really helps keep their colour longer than simply tossing them in the dryer - that's probably the best colour-saving tip I have up my sleeves.

Did the colour rub off on furniture?

No!  The dye stays put once the jeans were dry.  After the initial dye, while they were line drying, they deposited dye on anything they touched while wet (like the wall and the lid to the washing machine - crap).  This contact stained, although with scrubbing I got 95% of it off.  But once the denim was dried, and especially after the first wash, there was absolutely no transfer, which was interesting because I've experienced colour transfer with commercially dyed indigo jeans.

Did the jeans feel stiff?

Briefly.  Any time I dye something, I notice that it feels a bit stiffer when it's first dyed.  But after it's ironed or worn, it immediately softens and the fabric feels completely normal again. 

Will it wreck my machine?

Nope!  BUT, you have to run the machine empty, with bleach, immediately after dyeing to remove any dye from the machine (otherwise it can stain the drum and plastic pieces).  I usually use this bleach load to wash my floor rags and scungies because I hate wasting water.

Am I missing any questions?  I've also used this process to re-dye my comfiest pants/jeans once they've become faded from wear.  However, I find that dye always "sticks" best to clothing that hasn't been worn.  So, while my brand new jeans took the dye well and stayed dark, my old and faded pants were only temporarily revived by dye as it seemed to fade more quickly from the beat up pants.  But I will definitely keep dyeing jeans because it makes it so much easier to find the perfect fit when I no longer have to be concerned about the wash.

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Wintry Tablescape + DIY Dyed Doily

Although I love my framed Hungarian embroidery, I can't say I'm a huge doily fan.  I never thought they'd pique my interest until one day my Mom mused, "I wonder how easily we could dye doilies..."  Excuse me, did someone say teal?  I'd never thought about dyeing doilies!!  Lucky for me, my Mummu had a stash of about 100 - every size and shade you could imagine - so I tried a little doily dyeing experiment.

I earmarked five doilies for dyeing and dyed them along with some napkins in my washing machine.  It was so easy!



Supplies:

• White or cream doilies (thrift stores, yard sales, etsy, Amazon)
• Rit Dye (Teal)
• 1 cup of table salt
• Washing machine
• Bleach (for cleaning the machine)  

Choosing Doilies to Dye in the Machine:

If you're machine dyeing, as opposed to hand dyeing, there's a risk that the doilies could become a bit stretched or mangled in the machine.  My machine is fairly gentle, but I've used washers that really whip the clothes around - even on a gentle cycle.  Choose doilies with a more dense, less frilly pattern, because they will hold up to washing better.  If you have a sentimental doily, use a hand dyeing method, just in case.  Cotton will take the dye better than synthetic doilies.

How to Machine Wash Doilies:
  
Set the machine to a small load and fill with hot water.  Add the cup of salt and dissolve.  While the machine is filling, soak the doilies in hot water and set aside.  When the washing machine is full, add 1 bottle of Rit Dye, close the lid, and let it agitate for a minute.  Then toss in the wet doilies, making sure they aren't folded or bunched - I also added some napkins.  In total, the weight of my fabric was a pound, so a half bottle of dye would be sufficient, but for bright/dark colours, doubling the dye is recommended.

I let the machine agitate for seven minutes, then removed a doily, rinsed it with cold water until the water ran clear, and then hung it up to dry.  I re-set the machine and again, after seven minutes, removed another doily and repeated the rinsing process.  I wanted subtle colour differences, but you could leave them all in there for the duration of the dye bath.  I kept re-setting the machine so the dye bath was always agitating and in total, it took about  30-45 minutes.  I then let the machine finish the cycle and hung up the doilies and napkins to dry.  Then I ran an empty load through the machine with bleach to clean it out.

After dyeing, the doilies felt a bitter stiffer but I was surprised how well they held up in the machine!  Either the agitation or the very hot water caused some to pucker ever so slightly, but that was easily remedied by misting the doilies with water and then steaming them flat with my iron.  No dye was released during this process and by coaxing them back into shape, they once again returned to their normal, flat selves - and they softened too.  Here's a look at the same doily pictured on the left, above, once it was ironed:

I layered the teal doilies on my teak dining table, along with a collection of white ones - I chose patterns that reminded me of snowflakes.  If you're really committed to a doily runner, you could easily stitch them together, or sew them on to a contrasting table cloth.  I just laid them down on top of each other - so simple!

I added some vintage plates, my matching napkins, a part of my Iittala Festivo candle holder collection, Iittala Kastehelmi mulled wine cups, my glittering Christmas balls, and - to warm up this wintry palette - my vintage bronze flatware.  Now I'm totally smitten with doilies and want to try dyeing a batch a brighter aqua or maybe mint or coral...

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