Fabric Paint Fail – Fabric Dye on Upholstery
You know how I love a good experiment, but every once in a while it doesn’t work out as expected… in this case, it was a fabric paint fail.
I loved how this chair went from green to teal using Tulip fabric spray paint. I wrote about it before here, if you want to check it out.
I used Tulip fabric spray paint on this chair
I loved that product – worked great and didn’t rub off. My only complaint was that it was a little pricey when you need a lot of bottles. Each bottle was about $6 each.
In the comments of that post, a few people suggested using iDye or Rit dye mixed with water or alcohol as a cheaper alternative.
When I found this chair for $2, I knew I found my next guinea pig chair.
Isn’t she pretty?
I painted the legs of the chair white, then taped them off as best I could.
I decided to try iDye, because I had heard good things about it over Rit when dying anything black.
iDye
I think it was around $3 for the packet. I used about 1/2 cup of boiling hot water to dissolve the powder, then mixed it with 91% Isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle.
Then, I just sprayed the fabric with it, saturating it completely. It did dry pretty quickly. It wasn’t as dark as I wanted, so I repeated it when it was completely dry.
This is what it looked like when it was done.
iDye fabric dye – definitely a fabric paint fail.
Do you see where the dye is all over the legs? It seeped through the paper I put on them, and it stained them.
Here is a close up…
Not loving the coverage.
You can still see the green underneath the blue.
Although it looks okay from far away, there is a big problem. It rubs off. Like, a lot.
Dye rubs right off after drying
When the dye dried, I rubbed my hand over it and the dye came off in a dusty mess. I let it sit for a few days and tried it again. The above picture was taken about a week after I first dyed the chair, so it was definitely not because it was still wet.
The chair is not sit-able. Not at all.
I’m not sure why it didn’t work. It could have been the fabric. It could have been that it really did have to be soaked in the dye. No matter what it was that went wrong, it didn’t work. I should have used a different version, the one for synthetic fabrics.
So now, what do I do with the chair? I know I only spent $2 on the chair, so it’s not a big financial loss, but I’m still pretty bummed about it not working out.
Have you tried this kind of dye job? Let me know how your project worked out.
Do you know what I did wrong? Do tell!
Eliesa
Scottie says
I’m bummed because the chair is GORGEOUS! Wow, that’s sad. Did you try heat setting it? Even using a hair dryer on the hottest setting (since I can imagine an iron would be a bit difficult). That may help a bit…
A Pinterest Addict says
I did not use anything to heat set it, except the sun. I don’t know if it would make a difference now. I think I would have to rinse it out first and start over? Might have to just reupholster it. Ugh
lenee says
salt sets dye, maybe try spraying it with a hot heavy salt mixture.
Texasgal says
SAlt does sEt the dye…….next Time use rit dye dor synThetic fibers.with SYNTHETICS, use white vInegar. Rit cimes in concentrated, liquid forms at walmart….there is NATURAL fiber and synTHEtic….use a damp sponge to even out color af you go and let dry between coats…you will need two or three sessioNs. I usuAlly air dry in sun
Carriala Scurry says
There is a sealant spray that should be used after dying, rit sells one, it is called dye fixative, here is a link for one on amazon, walmart sells one as well…other markets, etc..
https://amzn.to/3HVfEq4
Ladybug Crossing says
Bummer….
It’s an awesome chair! I think you should reupholster it… Joanne’s is having a sale on fabric this week…
Keep us posted on what you do with this chair.
LBC
Scottie says
Maybe give it a try? It won’t hurt it and it’ll just take a little time. I’m SO sorry, I’d kill to find a chair like that around here… I may need to visit you so I can figure out all the awesome places you find all these incredible pieces! (wink, wink)
Leah K says
Reupholster the chair?? Good luck, what a mess!
Jen says
Honestly, reapholstry of these and Le Wittes chairs isn’t nearly as bad as you might think…might take a yard and a half of material, and new foam and staples, as cost. I’ve done a few. I find them along the road sides, and snatch them up. I am going to try the rit dye, but I am going to try, 2 GALs water, the entire bottle of rit, salt,and SEe. I was told to apply all of it, then to let it dry for 4 hours to set, then to rinse thouroughly with cold water, and use the fabric dye setter to lock it in. I got 2 wingback chairs for free, and I am going to give the dying thing a try. They will be going DARK purple.
Angie Timm Gordon says
I was going to suggest rinsing it with your hose…how did the first chair ever hold up? Is that one usable? I was looking for a followup on how it wore 🙂
A Pinterest Addict says
The color has been holding up just like it came that way. The dye has not come off or bled at all. Since the tulip fabric spray paint is much like a dye, instead of a paint, it’s not cracking or flaking off either. I highly recommend it. As far as this chair goes, I am afraid to hose it down because it might not dry out all the way.
susan stokes says
If you hose the chair down and leave it sit in direct sun it will dry completely. May take about two days though. My girlfriend who dumpster dives power washes furniture she finds by taking it to the car wash and then leaves it to sit and dry in the back of her pickup truck.
Natalie says
RIT dye has a tutorial for dying upolstry and they say to rinse it with a hose (just like you would rinse other fabric that you soaked) and for chairs they suggest using their fixative to further prevent the dye from leaking off when you sit on it, Here is the link to their tutorial. https://www.ritdye.com/2016/03/28/how-to-dye-an-upholstered-chair/
Aline McKay says
There’s got to be some kind of fixative out there so that it won’t rub off. How about rubbing it down with wax paper? I have no idea if that would work but it’s cheap and it would go fast. Or how about wiping it down with vinegar to set the color. Good luck and keep up posted!!
A Pinterest Addict says
hmmm… Never heard of rubbing it down with wax paper… what will that do?
Tammy says
I wonder if you had put some vinegar in the powder mix die if it would have kept it from rubbing off, it works for easter eggs. Maybe you could spray it now with some vinegar water and see if that fixes it.
Alyssa says
Bummer about the chair – she is a beauty!! I would just reupholster it!
A Pinterest Addict says
I’m hoping not to have to go that route, because I have a garage full of other things waiting for me to re-upholster them. If it comes down to it, I guess I’ll have to. That chair is way too cute for the garbage!
Elena says
Bleach it. It will look like tie dye. Or bleach it completely and start over
Jerry says
My kids tie dyed some t-shirts this weekend and you have to rinse the shirts to keep the color from coming off. I say put the hose to it!
A Pinterest Addict says
Did the color drastically lighten when you rinsed them?
Kristy Swain says
Ha, I love you! You try anything. And, I love showing the methods that you’ve tried on my blog so my readers can be more informed. Thank you for doing the work! Good stuff to know!! Let me know if you figure out a way to set it.
A Pinterest Addict says
I’m thinking I might have to just rinse it off, let it dry and try a new method. Or an old trusted one!
Donna @ My Sweet Things says
Hi Eliesa! It was so nice to meet you at Haven! I am glad we crossed paths! The colors of this chair are brilliant. Darn shame it can not be sat on! When I was growing up, my parents had a room we called the “blue room”. It had fancy, pretty furniture we were not allowed to sit on. lol! perhaps this piece can be one of those “It’s pretty, do not touch” chairs? 🙂
A Pinterest Addict says
It was great to meet you too! I don’t think the cats will respect that rule, and then I’ll have a blue cat! 🙂
I think I’m going to try to rinse it off and try it again with the Tulip spray paint. I have to check to see if they have dark blue…
Scottie says
Ok, so while paintin the cushions on my patio furniture today, I thought why don’t you try the Tulip Soft Fabric Paint? It comes in a 4 oz plastic bottle and covers better than the spray. There’s a more extensive color selection so surely you could find something you’d like. I was thinking it might even cover the dye so you don’t have to rinse it. Something to consider…. You might be able to test it underneath the chair to see?
A Pinterest Addict says
Hmmmm… I haven’t tried that yet. I am always game for something new…
alyssa says
if you buy the 4oz tulip fabric paint and put it in a spray bottle with water (two parts pait to one part water) it works just as well as the spray paint and its more for less i have used it on t-shirts for my sports and highschool spirit days and have washed them and they are still good as new. its a money saving option that is good for big jobs
A Pinterest Addict says
That’s a good idea! When you do that, does it still cover well?
Debra @ Bungalow says
So sorry your pretty chair didn’t turn out as expected….I painted a chair, it looks great but feels stiff. That’s ok because it’s just an accent chair in a guest room.
It was so nice meeting you at Haven and I hope to see you there next year!
A Pinterest Addict says
I’m going to try, try again with this chair… I’m just hoping it will dry all the way when I rinse the dye out of it! Cross your fingers for me!
Next year will be even better, as so many of us are now connected!
Wendy says
Hi! Your chair looks good. I’ve been dyeing yarn and wool for several years now, and the problem is the dye. RIT is made up os 1/2 dye that will work for cotton, linen, and other plant and some acrylics fabrics, and 1/2 dye that is good for wool, silk, alpaca, and other animal (protien based) fibers. So any time you’re dyeing a fabric with only one type of makeup, half the dye is left over because it won’t adhere! A good rinsing should take care of this, and if too much comes off, I’d go with your other idea of doing a paint or something.
A Pinterest Addict says
Good to know – I had no idea! I will rinse and see what I am left with, thanks! 🙂
Colleen says
Maybe you could use a shampooer & clean the loose dye out of the chair & try using the technique that uses house paint mixed with fabric medium to paint the chair fabric.
Debra says
I hope youdidnt get rid of the chair. Have a professional recover it, cuz it is really cool, and i know i am a recovering
Chair addict.
Well, actually i havent recovered, i love chairs
Jesse Scott says
I used this brand to dye an old pair of jeans a few months back. I mixed the dye with boiling water and it totally stained the inside of every container/pot I used in the experiment. Not only that, I let the jeans dry, wore them, unintentionally dyed my legs green. Terrible experience. I decided to give them a wash in the laundry and ended with a mint green washer and dryer by the end of the day. I won’t be using iDye ever again! 🙁
Carrie (@DJCarrieG) says
Sometimes I ‘print’ t-shirts, as in putting a stencil on the t-shirt and spraying paint over it, and for the paint I take Tulip Flat Paint and mix it with water. It’s a lot cheaper than the Tulip Spray Paint and it does the job and sticks very well, but the finished product does feel sort of acrylic-y as apposed to a straight dyed fabric. Maybe if you dilute the paint more than I did (there was no particular recipe I used), you can get a good effect for your chair…
A Pinterest Addict says
That’s a good idea, thanks! I’ll have to see what happens when I try to rinse out the color this week. I’m not sure I’ll be able to use anything that will be stiff, since it’s a furry-ish material, but I’ll keep this in mind 🙂
tyranicole says
http://www.hypheninteriors.com/2011/03/painted-upholstery-process-revealed.html
A Pinterest Addict says
I have used this method on some of my chairs, and it works great. But not for this fabric, unfortunately. It’s kind of furry. Thanks for the link though… I love Kristy, she is fabulous!
kerri says
Maybe the problem was the idye, it says on the front to use idye for poly for fabrics made of polyester and nylon. Isn’t that chair covered in poly?
Angela says
They have a poly fixative. But the idye is meant for rinse and a heat dry. I have a new he washer dryer so I suggest coin opp. Seriously if you used anything other than they photo sensitive idye it must be rinsed or there is no solution. The vinegar spray or a spray it new or sprat it black may make seal it. The directions call for multi rinse I think. Call your closest art supply (not hobby or fabric store) and I bet someone there had to figure our same problem. Art place near house has printed their own FAQ on I dye.
Good luck and thanks.
Scottie says
Any updates? Did you rinse it yet? I was thinking about this chair earlier today and thought I’d check in and see…
A Pinterest Addict says
Hi Scottie!! No, I haven’t rinsed it yet. It’s still sitting somewhere in my garage. I’ve been trying to get to the nitty gritty stuff I’ve been avoiding lately, so the projects have taken a back seat for the last few weeks.
scottiev says
Oh man! I know how that goes. Had a lady offer me retail space yesterday for some projects, giving that a strong consideration- A little concerned about the ability to keep it full… You should consider that as well- there’s got to be some similar locations near you and you’re so creative and talented!
A Pinterest Addict says
I am working on getting a workshop built, because I have no room to work on projects right now. If it gets up soon, I might just do that. I have friends with a shop, and I’ve already talked to them about selling some projects with them.
diana says
If it was mine, I’d strip off all the fabric and use it in the garden as a plant stand or plant succulents in it. But that’s just me. I’m more of a repurpose person. Tea pot into lamp.. ya know? Good luck! I love your blog. Great advice!
Patricia says
Normally when you dye fabric it needs to be ‘set’ by heat by throwing it in the dryer. Of course you can’t do that with a chair, so my only suggestion is to use a blow dryer or the sun. But it has to be really hot and for about 30 minutes.
A Pinterest Addict says
Will try that next time I attempt to use this product. I have one more package, I just need a subject to work on 🙂
Elly says
Perhaps the fabric is synthetic not natural so the dye is just sitting on top. I’d suggesttrying the idye poly and see how that goes 🙂
Katie Ambrosi says
Hi. Just checking in if you’ve ever revisited this chair and found a solution?
Korie Nordstrom says
I agree with some of the comments above on hosing it down, maybe with a high pressure sprayer, and drying it in the sun. (When it’s warm again, I didn’t even look at when you posted this!) Then once it’s dry, use the Tulip spray! It would be such a waste to not try it with this gorg chair!!
scottiev says
I still think I am going to drive down and steal this chair from you. 😉
lissa says
I tried the tulip and didn’t like the texture or coverage. I just did rit with vinegar and salt
I let you know when they dry if any rubs off
Mickey Nielsen says
Did you use the idye for 100% natural fibers like the picture shows? If so that is most likely why it is coming off. The upholstery was a poly fabric.
Karen Tomblin says
Still waiting to hear if you rinsed the chair and let it air dry.
A Pinterest Addict says
I did try to rinse out the chair and let it air dry, but it got stinky. I guess too much water got into the chair stuffing and didn’t dry fast enough. I had to get rid of the chair. The dye did rinse out a little, btw. It didn’t stick to the fabric much at all. I think it was the wrong dye for that fabric.
Chris says
If you scotch guard the chair after you dye it, that should work to reduce or eliminate transfers.
SM says
All materials are different and need different dyes and paints for proper adhering. You cannot just paint or die everything with the same medium and expect it to stick. I suggest a textiles class at a near by art school. I just noticed so many people leaving comments with no clue as to how this all really works.
A Pinterest Addict says
You are absolutely right! I’d love to take a textiles class! Alas, since this is not something I do everyday, it’s not as much of a priority for me. I try things out, and if they don’t work, then I know to try something else. If this was something I was going to pursue as a line of work, you know I’d be first in line to educate myself fully.
Jo Rogers says
When you did the first chair did the fabric stay soft or was it crunchy? I need to do some chairs but the word fabric “paint” scares me off. Could you email me because I don’t know how to get back if you post a reply.
Thanks much,
Jo
A Pinterest Addict says
Hi Jo,
The tulip fabric spray was great – not crunchy at all. I want to try chalk paint on fabric, as it seems like it would be more economical than trying to use the tulip stuff on a larger piece. Supposedly, it doesn’t feel rough or scratchy. I’ll let you know if I ever try.
Terry Richter says
try spray auto upholstry dye. Used in autos all the time