Experience dying a costume - lycra..anyone?

[yeli]

I purchased this costume from a Bhuzzer Beautiful White Belly Dance Costume - eBay (item 190178916654 end time Dec-02-07 19:45:16 PST)

It is a simple lycra base on the skirt and a light cup in the bra.
Has anyone dyed a costume like this before with positive or negative results?

the white does not work for me at all but I really like the style.

Thanks!
Yeli

[NajlaHalem]

nylon can be dyed, poly cannot. You won't be able to tell until you try. But at home, the only dyes you can purchase that i know of that will do nylon require high heat (boiling, some do steaming). That will definitely ruin any sequins, they will melt. Same with any plastic beads.

I personally wouldn't try to dye an already constructed and beautifully beaded costume....it's just too iffy. MHO

[Whisper]

I've not dyed lycra, but I did dye one that was velvet and chiffon. Has only sequins - no beads. I dyed it from white to soft yellow. I used the Rit dye that's readily available everywhere. I dyed it in a huge pot on the stove (did not use boiling water since I only wanted a soft yellow) then put it in a mesh draw string bag and put it in the spin cycle of washing machine. Layed it flat to dry. Is the strength of the beading enough to stand up to stirring/spinning? What will you do with it if it doesn't come out the way you envision - like if the color is more tye dye and not uniform? Do you have a non reactive pot big enough to do this on the stove? Do you have a tub that won't stain if you use the tub method? Was the costume too expensive to possibly ruin/deface?

[steffib]

A second for "Don't waste your time trying to dye poly<whatever> fibers. They won't take it."

In my experience, the best place to purchase dyes is Dharma Trading Co. Homepage - no matter what fibers you try to dye. These are much, much better than Rit when it comes to color choices, color brilliance, durability, and what they do to the fibers. I have sworn off Rit after discovering fiber-reactive dyes, it's one of my preachy issues ;-)

[Adishakti]

I wouldn't risk dying it... I've seen it done before and the beadwork wound up all half-dyed and ugly.

[vilia]

Oooh, I'll have to check out the tip about dyes, steffib!

I don't think I'd bother attempting to dye anything with lycra in it, let alone the other manmade fibres, Yeli. I just doubt it would take very well. Unfortunately, I think you'd be better off swapping out the costume or selling it.

[dancingrrrlz]

Wouldn't recommend dyeing lycra. It probably won't take. And a hot dye bath will kill it.

Maybe you could add some colored beads and sequins. Especially around the areas next to your skin. Might perk the color up a bit for you.

[Souzan]

Too pretty to ruin with an experiment. I like the idea of adding some color to it. And use a veil in the color that looks best with you. Add color with your jewelry. Being that it is white, it will pick up whatever colors are around it. If you save it for stage shows you could request color gels that woiuld enhance it.

Or sell it and get somethng that is a better color for you.

Souzan