topic Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker in Community Chat

Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

feline groovy — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 19:27:18 GMT

I'm a long-time blue denim (for bottoms) fan, plus a blue chambray (for tops) one.

Wear 'em as much as possible, LOL.

Although sometimes, I'd like to darken new (too-light-for-my-pear-shape) jeans, especially those whose: fit is fab.

Thought I'd share these how-to tips... HTH

(via RitStudio.com)

How To Make Old/New Faded Blue Jeans Darker

The slight shade variations results are shown left-to-right below: * using Denim * mixing Navy & Denim * using Navy * mixing Navy & Black.

For best results, pre-wash jeans to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

Cover work surface with a plastic table cover.

While jeans are still dry, weigh the jeans on a food scale, if possible.

Otherwise estimate the weight.

The weight helps to determine how much dye is needed.

As a guideline, 1/2 cup dye will color up to 16 ounces of dry weight fabric.

Men's jeans require more dye than ladies' jeans.

For darker colors, we recommend doubling the amount of dye used.

Use a large bucket so you can check the color frequently.

Measure 1 cup of salt and dissolve that in 4 cups (almost-boiling) very hot water.

Stir until salt is dissolved.

The salt helps to intensify the color on cotton fabrics.

Fill 4-gallon container with 3 gallons very hot (almost boiling) water.

Add the dissolved salt to the water and stir.

Then add a squirt of dish washing liquid.

Stir again.

Dye Preparation:

Choose the color of blue you like.

Shake all dye bottles before measuring.

Follow one of the 4 recipes:

For a Navy & Denim combo, use 1/2 cup Navy and 1/2 cup Denim.

Add to dye bath; stir well.

Test dye color to be sure you are satisfied.

Note: If color is too light, add more dye. If color is too dark, add more water.

For Denim, use 1 bottle of Denim dye.

Shake bottle before measuring.

Add to dye bath; stir well.

Test dye color.

For Navy, use 1/2 cup of Navy or one bottle, depending on the the weight of the jeans.

Add to dye bath; stir well.

Test dye color.

For a Navy & Black combo, use 1/2 cup Navy and 1/4 cup Black.

Shake dye bottles before measuring.

Add to dye bath; stir well.

Test dye color.

Immerse wet jeans into dye bath.

Wearing rubber gloves, lift and move jeans, stirring constantly for the first 10 minutes, and then occasionally for up to 30 minutes until desired color is achieved.

Tongs are also helpful for lifting and lowering jeans.

The longer the jeans remain in the dye bath, the darker the color will be. (Color will appear lighter when dry.)

Stirring helps to ensure an even color.

To help reduce color bleeding and improve color retention, treat jeans with Rit Color Stay Dye Fixative immediately after dyeing and before rinsing.

Remove jeans from dye bath and squeeze out excess dye.

Fill container with 3 gallons hot water and add 4 Tablespoons dye fixative; stir well.

Immerse jeans in fixative, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.

10)

Remove jeans and rinse in cold water until water begins to run clear.

Then wash jeans separately with an old towel in the washing machine with warm water and a mild detergent.

Rinse and dry.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

SilleeMee — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 19:36:14 GMT

But the thing is...when you dye anything with contrast-stitching, like blue jeans have, the stitching gets colored as well. I don't like that. I like to have contrast stitching.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

bri20 — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 19:52:29 GMT

I guess I'm too lazy to do all that. I just buy dark wash jeans.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

Zhills — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 19:59:01 GMT

Buy a cheap pair of dark blue jeans and wash them together! The new ones will fade onto the old ones.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

feline groovy — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 20:15:54 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:

But the thing is...when you dye anything with contrast-stitching, like blue jeans have, the stitching gets colored as well. I don't like that. I like to have contrast stitching.

Me too, but I like my butt looking smaller better. ;-)

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

feline groovy — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 20:34:04 GMT

In what temperature water, @Zhills?

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

ROMARY — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:34:31 GMT

I'm guessing that the hot, almost boiling water would shrink my jeans...............I could swe*r that I have run across tie- dye kits that require using cold water only. I have a feeling that cold-water dyes are available somewhere. Which, if available, I would try using them.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

Zhills — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 21:01:22 GMT

I always washed in warm. Some hot is hot enough to shrink the jeans that fit!

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

gidgetgh — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 21:05:40 GMT

Just reading the original post exhausted me. I can't even imagine. I'll just buy them dark to begin with.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

feline groovy — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 00:30:59 GMT

@ROMARY

Just don't put 'em in the dryer.

In fact, always wash jeans inside-out in cold water if possible, then hang to dry from the hems.

Helps the fabric and keeps the length. 8)

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

feline groovy — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 00:32:32 GMT

I'm sure there's more-succinct versions online, @gidgetgh, but this was on Rit's website.

Go take a nap. ;-)

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

chrystaltree — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:29:27 GMT

I cannot be the only one rolling on the couch laughing. Oh goodness, what a complicate, messy silly thing. And those directions....really???? But even if you did it, the stitching on your jeans would also get dyed. Your jeans wouldn't have that jeans look. Am I the only one who doesn't have any jeans tongs...lol It's so much easier just to buy the right color from the get go. I'm a pear shape....I wear light wash jeans all the time in the summer. I prefer light jeans in the summer.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

chrystaltree — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:32:45 GMT

@feline groovy wrote:
I'm sure there's more-succinct versions online, @gidgetgh, but this was on Rit's website.
Go take a nap. ;-)

Ritt....now it makes sense. Obviously the work group that put that thing together, never actually dyed any jeans....lol

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

Yardlie — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 16:33:24 GMT

I guess it would be inevitable that the contrast stitching would be dyed. In my world, that would not be a big issue. I guess it would make them look more like trouser jeans than regular jeans.

However, if you do dye your jeans, be sure to use a "Color Grabber" sheet when you wash them...if you put them in the washer with other items. I love those Color Grabber sheets. I'm always amazed at how much color they grab.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

Zhills — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:31:14 GMT

The thread is usually polyester and does not absorb color as much as the cotton does. I don't think you can dye polyester.

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

spindlegirl — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 05:43:26 GMT

Lol! This IS a lot of work for the result but thanks for sharing the tips @feline groovy!

Re: Making old & new faded blue jeans darker

CelticCrafter — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 12:20:27 GMT

@Zhills wrote:
Buy a cheap pair of dark blue jeans and wash them together! The new ones will fade onto the old ones.

I've never had any luck doing that. I couldn't see a bit of difference.