Ok, so I have some cloths I need to fad a little bit. I don't want to bleach them out, or remove the color, I just want to fade them a little bit, like they've been around for a little wile, and seen a little ware, but are still in pretty good shape. Say like taking a very, very, dark blue (almost black) down to more of a royal blue, or at least somewhere in between. And ideas. (actually I'm looking for something pretty "sure fire" as I don't want to rein these cloths, I just want to fade them a bit.)
Fading Fabric.
- Thread starter jason1976
- Start date
Guri
Sr Member
There is a Ritz color remover that works on natural fabrics, you could try diluting either that or bleach.
Soak the fabric in water first and soak a cotton rag/cloth as well. I wouldn't dunk the entire thing in when you want to fade it, but rather dip the wet rag in the diluted color remover solution and dab it lightly into the fabric you want to fade.
If it's possible to find the same type of fabric similar to the color at the fabric store to run tests on I would do that. If you can't, try a test spot somewhere on the clothing that isn't easily seen, in case it's too much. Get the effects you want before you work on your fabric.
The color doesn't change quickly, so work on the process slowly, and if you're working directly on your clothing, even rinse and let the fabric dry before using more solution on it, just to be sure it doesn't go too light.
I can't emphasize testing enough.
Soak the fabric in water first and soak a cotton rag/cloth as well. I wouldn't dunk the entire thing in when you want to fade it, but rather dip the wet rag in the diluted color remover solution and dab it lightly into the fabric you want to fade.
If it's possible to find the same type of fabric similar to the color at the fabric store to run tests on I would do that. If you can't, try a test spot somewhere on the clothing that isn't easily seen, in case it's too much. Get the effects you want before you work on your fabric.
The color doesn't change quickly, so work on the process slowly, and if you're working directly on your clothing, even rinse and let the fabric dry before using more solution on it, just to be sure it doesn't go too light.
I can't emphasize testing enough.
the_batdemon
Sr Member
are you looking to lighten the shade of the fabric or get more of a sun fade? putting the item in a sun drenched area for a while will work. also fiber content plays into what you want to do. Natural fibers are better than man made.
Well what it is in this case, is that I bout some Navy blue, cotton blend, rip stop, BDU's, for a stargate costume. They are quite nice, but I have two problems with them. One, wall being from the same brand, they are from two different dye batches, because the color between them is off every so slightly. The second problem is that they seem way to dark to me, compared to the ones on the show.
I've read that the one s on the show started out quite dark, but faded to the color we see in the oater seasons (when I started watching)
I think if I could get mine to fade a little it would bother get them to closer match those seen on the show, and hopefully, by fading them, the slight color difference wont be as noticeable. (they really are quite close in color, if you looked at them separately, you would say both pieces, are "Navy blue" it's just when you put them together, in the right light, that you see, that they aren't quite a perfect match.)
I would hate to cut them up, at all, but maybe I could test on a piece on the inside somewhere. like behind a pocket, or something like that. (of course putting something in the pocket to keep it from bleeding through to the out side.) Then when I get it right, move on to the out side.
I once had a black pare of rip stop BDU pants, that I wore just for regular cargo pants. I didn't have them long at all, because after just a handful of washes, they faded quite badly. unfortunately that was over 10 years ago, and fabrics, and cleaners, have gotten better to try to stop that from happening. (at least in theory.)
I know that hote washing in hot water can help fade them, but they are cotton, and washing them over, and over again, in hot water, will make them smaller, and smaller, and I'm already worried that I wont be able to get into them for a convention I have coming up later this month.
I've read that the one s on the show started out quite dark, but faded to the color we see in the oater seasons (when I started watching)
I think if I could get mine to fade a little it would bother get them to closer match those seen on the show, and hopefully, by fading them, the slight color difference wont be as noticeable. (they really are quite close in color, if you looked at them separately, you would say both pieces, are "Navy blue" it's just when you put them together, in the right light, that you see, that they aren't quite a perfect match.)
I would hate to cut them up, at all, but maybe I could test on a piece on the inside somewhere. like behind a pocket, or something like that. (of course putting something in the pocket to keep it from bleeding through to the out side.) Then when I get it right, move on to the out side.
I once had a black pare of rip stop BDU pants, that I wore just for regular cargo pants. I didn't have them long at all, because after just a handful of washes, they faded quite badly. unfortunately that was over 10 years ago, and fabrics, and cleaners, have gotten better to try to stop that from happening. (at least in theory.)
I know that hote washing in hot water can help fade them, but they are cotton, and washing them over, and over again, in hot water, will make them smaller, and smaller, and I'm already worried that I wont be able to get into them for a convention I have coming up later this month.
Paracord Junky
Well-Known Member
assuming they're not of a fabric prone to shrinkage, try boiling and sun-drying.
Guri
Sr Member
I thought you wanted to fade it to age it and make it look worn in some areas and not others... so my method above wouldn't be as good an idea. Also, if you have a specific color in mind, you want a controlled fade.
Your safest bet is to buy some fabric that is the same type of cotton in a similar shade (doesn't have to be exact) and bathe a small piece of it in a very diluted warm water mix of color remover and another mixture of bleach. They remove color differently...
Test different cuts of dilution (keep track of ratio!) until you get one that removes the amount of color you want. What this will do is help you test the potency of the solution before you get anywhere near your costume.
You can then use a small piece of your costume from the pocket, like you mentioned, to test the results on the real fabric. And if you really don't want to cut it up, you can dip just the pockets in. From my experience, it's logistically difficult and risky and it limits how many tests you can do, but you have to do what's comfortable for you.
Once you get what you like, you'll have to multiply the batch ratios of water to remover or bleach to be able to have enough solution to dip both entire costumes in. This is why if you really want the exact color you have in mind, you have to keep careful track of the ratios.
I know I probably don't have to say it, but don't use anything you're going to eat out of later.
Your safest bet is to buy some fabric that is the same type of cotton in a similar shade (doesn't have to be exact) and bathe a small piece of it in a very diluted warm water mix of color remover and another mixture of bleach. They remove color differently...
Test different cuts of dilution (keep track of ratio!) until you get one that removes the amount of color you want. What this will do is help you test the potency of the solution before you get anywhere near your costume.
You can then use a small piece of your costume from the pocket, like you mentioned, to test the results on the real fabric. And if you really don't want to cut it up, you can dip just the pockets in. From my experience, it's logistically difficult and risky and it limits how many tests you can do, but you have to do what's comfortable for you.
Once you get what you like, you'll have to multiply the batch ratios of water to remover or bleach to be able to have enough solution to dip both entire costumes in. This is why if you really want the exact color you have in mind, you have to keep careful track of the ratios.
I know I probably don't have to say it, but don't use anything you're going to eat out of later.
Darth Mule
Sr Member
I'd say to just run them together through a wash load with a 1/4 cup of bleach. This should knock them down a little and make them look like they've been washed.
If you're worried about shrinkage, wash them cold and hang dry them. If you're worried about continued bleaching, wash them a second time with vinegar in the load. This stops the bleaching action.
It may be tough to get them to fade. More and more commercial dyes today are both bleach proof and color remover proof.
If you're worried about shrinkage, wash them cold and hang dry them. If you're worried about continued bleaching, wash them a second time with vinegar in the load. This stops the bleaching action.
It may be tough to get them to fade. More and more commercial dyes today are both bleach proof and color remover proof.
MaulWalker
Sr Member
I put the garment I wanted to fade in select areas (shoulders, chest, upper back) on a dress form, sprayed it with lemon juice, and put it in the sun for a couple of days.
