Dyeing an SWK

[SportBilly]

Hi all. Firstly, sorry if this is posted in the wrong place. I was torn between the 'Kilt Advice' thread and this one, and this one won (or lost as the case may be, lol).

I really want an SWK Black Shadow Heavyweight for my first kilt, but my size is currently out of stock. Following Panache's advice, I'm more than likely going to wait until I can finally buy it but that little voice inside my head just won't shut up I was also considering something else as a stop-gap - I've seen the SWK Nightstalker but I'd like the grey to be more subdued. I'd much rather have a black kilt with a very slight hint of grey than something more pronounced. Is it feasible to dye one of these kilts darker? There's no way in a million years I'd try that with a more expensive kilt, but for an $80 first one I'd consider giving it a go if it's likely to work. Any thoughts or am I being ridiculously stupid?

Thanks!

[Moosedog]

Never stupid, just curious!

Synthetics (like the fabric that Nightstalker is made of) tend to not take dye very smoothly--either they repel it altogether or it is uneven. It can even vary from garment to garment...that being said, simply dying something a bit darker is one of the easist dying tasks...I don't think you'll know 'until you try it.

Moosedog

[SportBilly]

Thanks Moosedog - curious was a much better word!. Although I'm on a real budget, $80 might be worthwhile for an 'experiment'. As I'll be buying all of the accessories too, at least I'd still have those for when the Black Shadow is back in stock, I suppose

[Clockwork John]

You might want to see if you can get a swatch of the fabric from SWK and see how that takes the dye before you attempt to dye (and potentially ruin) a kilt- even a cheap one. That way you'll know if you have any chance of success before you spend the money.

[SportBilly]

That's a fine idea - thanks Crusty

[Panache]

I've got a better idea than Crusty! Simply send an email to Jerry over at Stillwater and ask him his opinion about dying the acrylic of one of his standard kilts to darken the tartan.

Jerry is a good egg and source #1 for information about Stillwater Kilts.

Cheers

Jamie

[SportBilly]

It was such a good idea that I tried it earlier after our PM Jerry was as kind as ever (I'm sure he's soon going to make a cut-out of my avatar to practice his Sgian Dubh throwing technique though, lol). Basically... he didn't know how the Nightstalker would hold up to being dyed. And to top things off...

... Jerry tells me that the last two Nightstalkers in my size sold today. Grrrr!! I'm telling you, the quote in my sig didn't come from nowhere.

Anyway, thanks for the help and advice I've been getting in my first few days on here. I guess my first kilt is further away than I originally planned! I'll say this though for any other newbies reading my posts - Jerry at Stillwater truly is one of the most helpful (and patient!) people I've come across in all my years of Internet trading.

I've got a better idea than Crusty! Simply send an email to Jerry over at Stillwater and ask him his opinion about dying the acrylic of one of his standard kilts to darken the tartan.

Jerry is a good egg and source #1 for information about Stillwater Kilts.

Cheers

Jamie