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If you want to give your tent a new look, then changing the colour can be a fun way of doing so. Whether or not this is possible will depend on the type of tent you are looking to dye. Canvas tents or canvas teepees can be dyed fairly easily. But a commercially available tent made from nylon or polyester usually can't be dyed because it will have a water-resistant coating. There are other ways to make those types of tents unique, however. Let's take a look at how to dye a canvas tent and how to modify a nylon tent.
This type of tent might be a retro tent that you like to use or it could be a play teepee for your children. Canvas can be a boring material and sprucing it up with some dye can truly make all the difference.
We will look at three different methods of dyeing a canvas tent:
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Before any of the dyeing methods, you will need to get the canvas ready.
Treat any visible stains on the fabric as this could make the dye hold unevenly. You can use a standard stain remover to do this.
Once the stains have been treated, wash the canvas in warm soapy water to remove any finishes or oils that could prevent the dye from taking.
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At first glance, this idea does seem a little strange. But using a washing machine for dyeing is a recommended method, especially for large and bulky pieces of fabric that are difficult to dye by hand.
To enhance the colour of the dye and prevent it from bleeding, you can add salt water. To make this, mix one cup of salt with four cups of very hot water.
You will also need one teaspoon of dish detergent and the dye solution.
Set the washing machine to the hottest temperature setting. The wash cycle should be at least 30 minutes but you can set it for much longer than that. The longer the wash cycle, the more saturated the colour will be.
Start the cycle and add the dye to the dispenser.
Next, add the salt water and the dish detergent. Then flush the dispenser with four cups of hot tap water and wait for the cycle to finish.
Dying a canvas tent by hand can be more time-consuming. If you have a smaller washing machine or you don't want to risk it, then dying by hand can still work great. And it gives you much greater control of the final shade of the fabric.
Before beginning the dyeing process, put on your rubber gloves and make sure that the area is prepared. Don't dye your tent near anything you don't want stained and make sure there are some old towels on the floor in case of spillage.
Take a large bucket or bowl and fill with hot water to less than halfway.
Prepare the dye according to the manufacturer's instructions.
In another container, mix one cup of salt with four cups of very hot water until it dissolves.
Pour the dye solution and the saltwater into the bowl of hot water.
Place the canvas into the bowl or bucket so that it is fully submerged then leave it to sit.
Every 15 minutes, adjust the canvas through gentle stirring or folding.
Every time you adjust, check the shade of the fabric. Once it reaches the shade you are looking for, it is ready.
Tie-dyeing is a fun way of adding colour and fun to a bland canvas tent. And the best thing about tie dye is that it doesn't need to be perfect. Its imperfections are what makes it beautiful.
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Follow the manufacturer's instructions to prepare the dye. Once the solution is ready, pour it into a squirty bottle.
Repeat this step for all of the different colour dyes.
There are all sorts of designs that you can create depending on how you twist and tie the fabric. You can choose something that creates a uniform pattern or stripes or you can twist the fabric in whatever random configuration your heart desires.
Tie each twist in the fabric using elastic bands or twine and tie the whole thing together so that it is stable.
Use the squirty bottles to apply the different colour dyes. It is usually better to section out the colours so that you get a nice effect. Aim the squirty bottles into the folds in the fabric as much as possible. Don't worry too much about having any bare areas as these can be an interesting part of the design.
Wrap the fabric in plastic and let it sit for 24 hours.
Once you have finished any of the dyeing methods, you should wash the canvas on a warm wash with mild detergent and leave it to air dry.
If you have hand-dyed or tie-dyed the fabric, pour running water over it first until the water runs clear. Then place it in the washing machine for the wash cycle.
If you dye the fabric using a washing machine, make sure to give the machine a clean afterwards. Use non-chlorine bleach mixed with detergent and run a high-temperature wash cycle using some old towels.
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Any tent you buy for outdoor use will have a durable water-repellent finish. Whenever moisture hits this finish, it beads. And the same will happen with any dye that you attempt to apply. So this type of fabric can't be dyed.
What can you do instead? If you want to modify the look of your tent, you can buy untreated fabric and use that to create your own tent fly. This will sit nicely over your tent and will give you the look that you want. While it won't change the colour of the entire tent, it can definitely make it look like new.
You can use your current tent fly as a pattern to cut the fabric or create a simple rectangular tent fly that you can attach with a pole and guy line at each corner.
Untreated nylon or polyester can be dyed although the process can be more complex than for canvas or other natural materials.
For a tie-dye look, you can use thin fabric paint on either material.
Once the dye has set, you should go back over and cover the fabric with a waterproof coating. This will make it weather-resistant and ready for use.
Bright colours can be harder to achieve on something like a dark green or black tent fabric so you are better off choosing something more neutral if you want a bright and vibrant tent fly.
Dyeing a synthetic tent isn't usually possible because it will have a durable water-resistant coating. Dyeing a canvas tent is possible because it is a natural material. For a synthetic tent, you can use untreated synthetic material and dye to create an eye-catching tent fly. If you are unsure whether your tent fabric can be dyed, contact the fabric supplier or an expert.
At The Leather Colour Doctor, we are experts in all things fabric and dyeing. If you need some guidance with how best to approach dyeing any fabric, we can help.
