How to Dye Ball Gowns

Maybe you have an old ball gown whose color has faded. Or maybe you found the perfect fit but the color is not right. You can transform a ball gown into another color using fabric dye. Dyeing a ball gown is simple and does not take much time to do. Using just a few supplies and by following a few easy steps, you can have make an old ball gown into something new and beautiful.

Pick the right dye for your gown. Check the gown's fabric information on the tag. Ball gowns that are made from silk or wool will need an acid-based dye, and gowns made of cotton, linen or blends work well with fiber reactive dyes.

1. Clean your ball gown. Make sure that there are no stains on the gown; a stain may take the dye and make it a slightly different hue than the rest of the dress. Once the stain is out, make sure to rinse the soap out completely.


2. Wet the gown thoroughly. You can use a large tub, basin or the bathtub. Fabric dye will stick to the fabric better if the gown is wet before dyeing it.


3. Follow the directions on the dye packaging to mix the dye.You will need a large pot or basin. The amount of water and dye you will need may vary by dye manufacturer and also by how big the gown is so follow the directions carefully.


4. Put the saturated gown into the dye mix and follow the manufacturer instructions. Some dye manufacturers will require you to heat the water and leave the gown to simmer. Heating the gown and water help the fabric cuticles to open up and accept the dye better.


5. Allow the dye and the dress to simmer until the water reaches 120 degrees. Check the instructions for the length of time the dress should simmer. Constantly stir the dress while it is simmering so that the dye distributes evenly.


6. Remove the ball gown from the dye once the time is up. Place the dress into the bathtub or big basin and rinse using cold water. Continue to rinse the dress until all the dye has come out and the water runs clear. You may also want to run the gown in the washer on delicate once to make sure all the dye is out. Hang it to dry over a pan or something that can catch the water in case the dye runs off.