Possible to dye corduroy jacket?

**War dog** · 19th December 13, 08:16 AM

I have a chance to buy a light tan corduroy jacket at a charity shop that would be perfect for a conversion to a kilt jacket. It is exactly my size, has patch pockets and two vents - just what is recommended.
Unfortunately, it has a faded spot. As it is only $5, it is an inexpensive investment but I will have to pay a seamstress.
So, can it be dyed?

**Chas** · 19th December 13, 08:23 AM

In my experience, corduroy takes colour extremely well. I had a pair of tan trousers that became dark green with no problem at all.

It will be good to see a corduroy kilt jacket as the fabric has gone somewhat out of fashion.

If you can get real leather buttons, that would make the jacket superb.

**War dog** · 19th December 13, 08:28 AM

Thank you Chas! A quick reply and you give the answer I was hoping for. I really like corduroy and once had a three piece suit in dark green corduroy that my wife always thought was a great look on me, so I will probably go for that colour as it will work with both my dress and hunting tartans (Robertson).

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 19th December 13, 11:47 AM

As Chas says corduroy tends to take dye well. That said, I'd suggest you send it out to be professionally dyed.

**creagdhubh** · 19th December 13, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

In my experience, corduroy takes colour extremely well. I had a pair of tan trousers that became dark green with no problem at all.

It will be good to see a corduroy kilt jacket as the fabric has gone somewhat out of fashion.

If you can get real leather buttons, that would make the jacket superb.

That's good to know. I was actually thinking about getting rid of a pair of old, tan coloured courduroy trousers recently (I'm an avid wearer of corduroy trousers and blazers with Saxon attire during the fall and winter months), yet this thread has me inspired to give it "the old college try" and dye them a dark green hue. "Breathe new life into them," so to speak. Cheers, Chas!

**piperdbh** · 19th December 13, 12:04 PM

If you do decide to dye the jacket, do not buy Rit dye. It is not colorfast, and leaves a splotchy result. Instead, use idye. It's available (in the US, at least) at craft stores likes Michael's, A.C. Moore, and JoAnn's Fabric. It's also available online through Dharma Trading Co. It's sold as idye, which is for natural fabrics, and idye poly, for synthetics.
Is something like this what you're hoping to end up with?

**creagdhubh** · 19th December 13, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

If you do decide to dye the jacket, do not buy Rit dye. It is not colorfast, and leaves a splotchy result. Instead, use idye. It's available (in the US, at least) at craft stores likes Michael's, A.C. Moore, and JoAnn's Fabric. It's also available online through Dharma Trading Co. It's sold as idye, which is for natural fabrics, and idye poly, for synthetics.
Is something like this what you're hoping to end up with?

Good to know!

**Tobus** · 19th December 13, 01:36 PM

Please do post your method and the results if you give it a try! I have a tan/buff coloured corduroy jacket that I bought at a thrift store too, with the intent of converting it to a kilt jacket. Leather buttons and patch pockets make it a good candidate. But I've been wearing it for several years just with Saxon attire. I HATE HATE HATE the colour, as it doesn't really go with anything. Doesn't even compliment anything either. It really needs to be a darker brown, but I've no idea how to dye a jacket without ruining the lining.

**creagdhubh** · 19th December 13, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Tobus

Please do post your method and the results if you give it a try! I have a tan/buff coloured corduroy jacket that I bought at a thrift store too, with the intent of converting it to a kilt jacket. Leather buttons and patch pockets make it a good candidate. But I've been wearing it for several years just with Saxon attire. I HATE HATE HATE the colour, as it doesn't really go with anything. Doesn't even compliment anything either. It really needs to be a darker brown, but I've no idea how to dye a jacket without ruining the lining.

In terms of colour, a bit like this one? This is the same corduroy blazer that I have (from Banana Republic) in a tan colour and I find that it tends to pair well with darker blues, as the model's clothing suggests. I've always though this to be somewhat of a "classic" colour for a corduroy blazer, but like you, I actually like more of darker (chocolate) brown colour. I also have corduroy blazers in both navy and dark green. The latter has leather covered buttons and elbow patches.

**Tobus** · 19th December 13, 02:56 PM

Yeah, mine's about that colour, although it seems to appear somewhat orange in certain lights. I can't really wear it with black, grey, or khaki trousers. So, like you, the only trousers it goes with is blue jeans or blue slacks.

I guess I was being a bit melodramatic about hating the colour so much, but I guess I'm just frustrated that I like the jacket but it just has such a limited range of clothing that it can go with.