https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:59:37 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323570 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:34:13 +0000 rosee 323570@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Amazon ships some things to Canada (I've bought books, dvds and some shoes) but chemical /cosmetic products they won't ship over the border for some reason. It's a common problem for us -- coveting things only available in the US.</p> <p>I googled an online forum (Canadian) about where people got Tarrago dye, maybe one of their suggestions will work out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323568 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:19:37 +0000 rae 323568@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah, Rosee, I think Amazon ships to Canada:<br /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tarrago-Shine-Color-Double-Bronze/dp/B003UKVIJY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;s=home-garden&#038;qid=1301508955&#038;sr=8-2" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Tarrago-.....038;sr=8-2</a></p> <p>The dye is definitely liquid -- not even thick enough to look like paint. I really hope you can spiff up that tote! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323533 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:19:18 +0000 rosee 323533@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for those links, Rae!</p> <p>That bootie (from the blog link) seems to have turned out ok too, so that's good. I think Fibings dye is more limited that way.</p> <p>With the Tarrago dye, is it more liquid or paste? I'm currently searching online for Canadian distributors or US sellers that will ship to Canada (looking slim at the moment).<br /> Now, I'm thinking of going bronze with the tote. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323462 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:37:57 +0000 rae 323462@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hm, the Tarrago dye says that it will dye over any color "even white on black."<br /> <a href="http://www.shoetreemarketplace.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1010" rel="nofollow">http://www.shoetreemarketplace.....tCode=1010</a></p> <p>I don't yet have an opportunity to try that out, but this person went from black to perriwinkle successfully: <a href="http://blog.cutierage.com/?tag=tutorial" rel="nofollow">http://blog.cutierage.com/?tag=tutorial</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323400 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:01:35 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 323400@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow!</p> <p>Love the finished product on your other thread! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323385 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:59:02 +0000 yublocka 323385@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow Rae I am even more impressed after reading this thread. What an incredible transformation!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323384 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:42:18 +0000 rosee 323384@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice work!!!<br /> I've redyed shoes twice using Fibings dye: 1 shoe was fuschia, dyed it black and it ended up pewter (I gave those away b/c they were too high a heel); the other was a cognac ballet flat to chocolate (those I wear). Both turned out great.<br /> I'm debating whether to do a leather tote now to help disguise the wear on the bag ("hazelnut" /cognac to chocolate likely). Please let us know how your bag project turns out...</p> <p>Mo: if using bright or deep colors for dyeing clothes, use 2 packets (I've used more if needed too) to get a good, rich shade. Red is always tricky b/c of the chemicals in the dye, and the color bleeds a lot afterward (ruined many a load of laundry). Soaking in cold rinse water with salt, vinegar or both helps hold the color.</p> <p>Cocolion: dyeing (leather, I'm assuming) from taupe to white will be difficult -- it's better to go from lighter to darker for best results -- so I would consider taking it to a professional shoe repair or leather restorer. Unless you are willing to bravely take a risk. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323206 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:19:13 +0000 Angie 323206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Brilliant! Now lets see them on you </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323201 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:12:30 +0000 Marley 323201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is amazing Rae - I am so impressed! You have a beautiful pair of boots! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323180 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:00:35 +0000 Aida 323180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*nodnod* This is good news indeed. Looking forward to your bag dying review </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323175 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:46:47 +0000 rae 323175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hm, the original leather was pretty sturdy and thick to begin with, but I wouldn't say they got any tougher. My ankles are still comfy when I walk and I don't feel like I need to "break in" the boots. The luster is a tiny bit different... they started very matte (maybe because of being a bit beat up) and now they have the look of a new dress boot. I have read a lot of success stories where women have dyed their Balenciagas and other high-end bags with no complaint about the feel of the leather, but I can't say first-hand... yet. The bag I intend to dye is soft Italian leather, so maybe that will give a better idea. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323168 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:33:24 +0000 Aida 323168@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rae, did you notice a difference in the feel of the leather? I'm asking because the leather project I'm thinking of doing is for a jacket that has a fairly soft leather and I'd heard that doing these leather dyes can toughen up the leather significantly. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-323094 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:00:04 +0000 Scarlet 323094@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, kudos to this DYI effort. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-322967 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:52:21 +0000 rae 322967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet, from what I've read, people sometimes put the dye over the metal (for ease of application) and then clean it off with alcohol or acetone. I haven't heard of anyone who wanted to leave the dye on the metal (not sure if that's what you're suggesting). </p> <p>Girl X, I finished up the boots Friday afternoon, wore them about the apartment Sunday night to try on outfits, then gave them a good rub on my beige carpet this morning to test - no color transfer at all. So I feel comfortable saying that (at least after 4.5 days) the dye is super colorfast. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-322771 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:50:35 +0000 Girl X 322771@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The ability to dye leather is like a fashion superpower. Awesome.</p> <p>Is the dye totally colourfast? I mean, could you lay them down on a white carpet and not have to be concerned? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-322675 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:39:45 +0000 Janet 322675@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beautiful results! I have a light gray bag at the cleaners, waiting to see if they can somehow get the dark stains off it from rubbing against my black jeans during just one wear. I'd be fine with dyeing the bag, but it has a lot of small metal studs on it. Can you dye right over any metal trim? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-322625 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:47:15 +0000 Aida 322625@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great results, I'm impressed! Thanks for the write up, I've bookmarked this for reference! It is encouraging to see such good results, I almost have the guts to try it myself now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321869 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:49:55 +0000 CocoLion 321869@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for posting this. What I am wanting to do is to dye taupe into white. The shoes are brand new so I may need to find a test unit, like a belt.</p> <p>I need to bookmark this page, so useful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321866 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:45:06 +0000 MNsara 321866@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, amazing! You are most definitely crafty and brave and inspiring. I must try this. . . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321853 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:24:31 +0000 bella 321853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Amazing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321782 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:38:36 +0000 Kari 321782@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rae, you are very crafty - and brave! Totally seamless boot surgery. Well done. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321777 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:36:41 +0000 Patty 321777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great job!!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321764 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:29:22 +0000 rae 321764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari, yes, I just chopped them down to the height I wanted with some well-sharpened scissors. Then I removed the buckle from the OTK part with a seam ripper and reattached it to the top of the boot. I reinforced any seams I had cut with leather glue and thread. When I dyed them, I made sure to dye the top of them where I had cut into the leather. </p> <p>For once, I am actually hoping the rain sticks around, so that I can test them. The box says that it repels water. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321745 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:02:38 +0000 Kari 321745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rae, your results are incredible! Did you also cut the boots off to knee-length since the OTK portion was damaged? I can't even tell what you did to alter the boot height from the finished photo, and I'd never know that they were dyed.</p> <p>Let us know how they hold up once you wear them out in the rain, too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321743 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:01:11 +0000 Mo 321743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, it was just some white cotton capris I'd cut off to be shorts. I tried to go red but ended up a coralish watermelon color. Might just try again with a double batch of red dye. I did successfully dye a sage blazer brown this winter so I know it can be done </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321734 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:35:04 +0000 rae 321734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, guys! </p> <p>Lyn, it doesn't have to be boots. I'll probably do a bag next... colored bags are fun! </p> <p>Mo, what were you dying? I wanted to try and dye a dress sometime, too, but I have zero experience with that. I would appreciate hearing what went awry for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321691 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:44:57 +0000 Mo 321691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow - they look great! I had a dye project not go so well just yesterday lol. Happy to see your shining success here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321688 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:42:53 +0000 Stephanie 321688@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you so much for this, Rae! Now I want to do a craft project! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321687 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:41:39 +0000 lyn* 321687@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>WHOA! It looks (and sounds) really easy... too bad I don't have any boots that need dying. :p now I"m dying to try this out! LOL.</p> <p>Those boots look much better in this colour! YAY! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/patience-what-patience-tutuorial-how-to-dye-leather#post-321686 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:39:47 +0000 rae 321686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The problem: I needed to replace my dark brown boots, but I couldn't find anything to fit my calves. One pair came close, but the leather was so soft, the shafts puddled around my ankles. </p> <p>The solution: I found a damaged pair of Sam Edelman boots at the swap meet. Wrong color, wrong style, but the calf fit like a second skin, and the price was right. Cheap boots + brown dye = experiment time! </p> <p>(I stupidly did not take a photo of the boots before alteration. They were these, but damaged on the OTK part:<br /> <a href="http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=809934002&#038;tid=plfr1r" rel="nofollow">http://piperlime.gap.com/brows.....tid=plfr1r</a></p> <p>I used Tarrago's self shine leather dye kit in dark brown. </p> <p>Step one: Scrub with preparer fluid (provided) to make sure the leather will accept the dye. </p> <p>Step two: Use paint brush (provided) to paint dye into seams, crevices, and anywhere else hard to reach with a sponge. </p> <p>Step three: Use sponge (provided) to apply dye to boots. Use a circular motion, and don't let the dye glob up - spread it out nice and thin so that the leather can absorb it. Let coats dry.</p> <p>Step four: Check out your dye job in various types of light to see if there is a nice, even color. Repeat step three as needed. </p> <p>You can also use masking tape to protect hardware or other elements that you don't want dyed, but I am pretty steady with a brush (and impatient), so I skipped that part. Didn't matter in the least for me. It seriously was THAT easy. I didn't make a mess, didn't run into any problems. I will definitely use this dye again to dye more leather! </p>