How to dye canvas shoes

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It’s easy to get tired of the same old white canvas shoes. If you have a relatively new pair of white canvas shoes and want to jazz them up a bit, why not dye them? Rit dye has been the product of choice for many years for people who want to dye anything from clothes to draperies. As of 2009, Rit dye was available in 26 colors, which is infinitely more than your choices when you walk into a shoe store to buy canvas shoes. Whether you have a little one who is in love with the color orange or you need pink shoes to match an outfit, follow these steps to change your shoes from boring to bold.

If your shoes have never been worn, you do not need to wash them before dying them. If your shoes have been worn, wash them in your washer on a low agitation cycle.

Put on the gloves to keep from staining your hands. Pour 3.5 gallons of hot water into the bucket. Add two packages of Rit dye to the water and stir well with the wooden spoon. Be sure to use a spoon that you don’t mind tossing once your shoes are dyed because the dye will also color the spoon.

Carefully lower shoes into the dye, one shoe at a time. Do this slowly to prevent the dye from splashing on anything you don’t want dyed, such as your clothing.

Leave the shoes in the dye for 30 minutes. Stir the shoes in the dye every 10 minutes to keep the color consistent.

Carefully remove the shoes from the dye and rinse until the water runs clear.

Place the shoes, soles down, on a trash bag. Allow them to dry for 24 hours.

Empty and rinse the bucket immediately to prevent staining.

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Crocs are a convenient and comfortable brand of foam rubber shoes, but painting and customizing them can be a little tricky. Fabric dye won’t stick to the foam rubber material very well and spray paint will crack and break over a short period of time. The best way to dye your Crocs a different color is to use a process known as hydro-dipping, or water transfer painting. To do this, you need a large plastic bucket and 1-4 colors of acrylic or latex spray paint. It won’t take you more than 15-30 minutes of work to create a beautiful pair of custom Crocs.

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Tip: It’s easier to hydro-dip a brand new pair of Crocs than it is to paint a worn down pair. Buy a new pair of Crocs if you really want a clean finish.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Simon Green

Cotton canvas is standard canvas made by weaving cotton, as opposed to linen or hemp. It is a heavy duty fabric used for making tents, backpacks, bags and other items designed to withstand stresses and strains. Dying cotton canvas is a great way of customizing any number of items so it matches clothing, room décor or a particular theme.

Things You’ll Need

Step 1

Clean the canvas to remove any dirt and grease that will prevent the dye from taking hold. This can be done in a washing machine on a standard setting or however this item would normally be cleaned.

Step 2

Pour the water and salt in a suitable container. The size of the container depends on the amount of canvas being dyed. A bucket is suitable for canvas shoes, whereas a bathtub may be required for canvas tarpaulins. See the dye manufacturers’ guidelines on how much salt is required. This will depend on the amount of water needed to submerge the garment. Some dyes will not require the addition of salt so do check before starting this task.

Step 3

Mix the dye in a cup to the manufacturers guidelines, pour into the water containers and stir well to combine all the elements.

Step 4

Plunge the canvas into the container and stir frequently for 20 minutes with a paddle.

Step 5

Combine soda ash and water and pour into the dying mixture gradually, over a 15-minute period. For each 1 1/2 gallons of dying water, a 1/6 cup of soda ash will be required. Make sure the soda does not come in contact directly with the canvas by pushing the fabric to one side to pour it in.

Step 6

Wash the fabric with cold water to remove excess dye and leave to dry. Once dry, wash in a washing machine.

Bleach the fabric first if dying it a lighter color in the same way as hair dye.

A second dying session may be required to get the fabric a darker color.

Increase the amount of dye in the water for richer, deeper colors and reduce for lighter, pastel shades.

Everything You Need to Know About Canvas Ballet Shoes

How much do canvas ballet shoes cost?

Canvas ballet shoes cost anywhere between $15 to $30. You’ll see prices vary by brand with Grishko split-soles being at the top of the range and Theatricals or Sansha child slippers being the cheapest canvas shoes.

How to wash canvas ballet shoes?

Most young dancers are always curious about how to wash their canvas shoes. We recommend placing them in a lingerie bag and washing them in a cold, delicate cycle. Another option is to always leave them out to air dry after use. Keep in mind that the more you wash them, the faster they’ll fall apart. If you train 3 times a week or more, expect to replace your canvas shoes on a monthly basis to avoid bacteria buildup.

Can you put canvas ballet shoes in the washer?

Yes! You can easily wash your canvas ballet shoes in the washer. Just make sure to wash on a delicate cycle, in cold water. Do not tumble dry.

Can you put canvas ballet shoes in dryer?

We do not recommend using a dryer for your canvas ballet shoes. I’ve known several dancers who have had their shoes fall apart post dryer. Avoid using the dryer to dry your canvas ballet shoes.

How to shrink canvas ballet shoes?

It is not possible to shrink canvas ballet shoes. There may be a little bit of shrinkage from washing them and having the dancer walk around in them as they air dry, but it is not guaranteed. Your best bet if your canvas shoes are too big, either return them or wait for the dancer’s feet to grow. DO NOT put them in the dryer. This is a sure-fire way to ruin canvas ballet shoes.

How to wash canvas ballet shoes with leather soles?

There are two different ways to go about this.

1. You can hand wash the non-leather portions of the shoes and air dry them. This takes more time and care.
2. You can wash them just like normal canvas ballet shoes. Throw them in washer on a gentle cycle, in a lingerie bag, in cold water. Keep in mind, this will shorten the lifespan of the leather, and can cause the leather to shrink temporarily. Make sure to wear them before class once they’ve dried to stretch them out again, and we recommend using a leather treatment to prolong the life of the sole.

How to make canvas ballet shoes less slippery?

If your canvas ballet shoes are too slippery, then you can dampen the soles with a moist paper towel, rough the soles up with sandpaper a bit, or even use rosin if your school has it readily available.

How long do canvas ballet shoes last?

Most dancers are always curious how long canvas ballet slippers last. The answer depends on how frequently you dance. If you dance 3 times or more per week, then you’ll need to replace your canvas ballet shoes on a monthly basis.

How to dye canvas ballet shoes black?

There are several ways to dye canvas ballet shoes black. But the simplest solution, buy black canvas ballet shoes. If for some reason you’re not able to find any, then you can use one of these methods. Some dancers have used a black sharpie (don’t do this), we recommend using a black fabric marker. You can also use fabric dye. Fabric dye is a faster and more effective way to evenly color the canvas shoe. Just make sure to rinse the shoe after dying it to ensure the dye does not bleed or streak on the floor as you dance.

How to dye canvas ballet shoes with tea?

Tea dying shoes is very simple. To dye your canvas shoes with tea, start with a good strong tea brand (no dollar store tea). Then simply brew it in a large pot or container, and once it has steeped for about 20 minutes, you can proceed to drop the shoes in. The problem with this method is controlling the final color. If you need your shoes to be a certain color, then get them professionally dyed. As cool as it is to say you dyed your shoes with tea, we do not recommend this method.

How should canvas ballet shoes fit?

The fit of canvas ballet shos is very important. They should fit like a sock with little to no extra material. There should be little to no material if you pinch the toe area of the shoe, but it should also not be so tight that it causes your toes to curl or feet to bind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lindsey Crafter

Vans are known for their comfortable and casual slip-on sneakers. Using your favorite fabric dye you can easily freshen up a pair you already own, or customize a new pair to fit any season.

Things You’ll Need

White canvas Vans sneakers or slip-ons

Liquid or powder fabric dye

Empty spray bottles

Paper towels or shop rags

Plastic drop cloth

Access to a sink

Step 1: Apply Petroleum Jelly to Soles

Rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly onto the rubber edge of your shoes to prevent staining. Avoid rubbing any onto the fabric parts of the shoes, as this will make it impervious to the liquid dye.

Step 2: Mix Dyes

In clean spray bottles, measure and mix fabric dyes according to directions on packaging. Keep in mind many dyes require additives like salt to work as a color fixative with natural fabrics. Shake spray bottles well to mix and dissolve dye.

Warning

Fabric dye can stain hands, clothing and surfaces — so be sure to adequately cover your workspace with plastic sheeting and wear gloves while dyeing.

Step 3: Spray Dye onto Shoes

Roll up two rags or paper towels to place in the soles of the shoes to absorb run-off dye. Spray desired dye colors onto the canvas of the shoes, saturating the fabric evenly from front to back.

Try blending two contrasting colors for a modern ombre look.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry

Run your shoes under cold water in a sink before sitting in the sun to dry. Use a warm rag and dish soap to remove any remaining petroleum jelly from the soles of the shoes. If you’re concerned about colors bleeding or transferring onto skin or clothing, spray your Vans with a coat of waterproofing sealer.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

How to Dye Canvas Shoes

White canvas shoes are perfect to use for making customized shoes in every color. You can dye canvas shoes to match any color imaginable. If you cannot find the shoes in the right color to coordinate with a specific outfit then you can dye the shoes to match. Dye your own canvas shoes in no time with a few supplies that can be purchased from a craft or hardware store.

Instructions

Prepare the fabric dye by filling a bucket with hot water and adding the dye along with other ingredients like salt, according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Use new white canvas shoes because dirt or other elements may affect the distribution and absorption of color. Wet the shoes by running them under hot water. This will help the dye distribute evenly onto the shoes.

Then place the shoes into the bucket of dye and stir according to the manufacturer’s instuctions. Stirring is necessary or the dye will not sink into the canvas evenly.

Leave the white shoes in the dye for the amount of time indicated on the directions. Keep the shoes in the dye for the full time period as indicated on the box in order to get a pure, true color. The longer you leave them in the dye, the darker they will become.

Now remove the shoes and rinse off excess dye.

Let the white canvas shoes air dry on a clean flat surface or if you need them more quickly, you can dry them in the clothes dryer.

When you are done with the dye, dispose of it immediately and rinse the bucket throughly to avoid staining.

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I’ve had these fugly red brogues in my closet for years. I got them for free in a buy 1 get 2 deal years ago. I never had time to reflect on my choice for the second pair and remember just grabbing the first pair I saw thinking that I could re-paint them when I got home. I never got around doing it until now.

The material is some type of faux leather. I decided to not use paint specially made for shoes, but instead use regular screen print fabric paint. I have used shoe paint before and have never felt that excited about the result. The fabric paint did not let me down and when it dries there will be no cracks as it will still be a bit rubbery and can even be stretched a little. Ideal for shoes! The textile paint I used sets with heat, but I solved that problem by breaking out my hair dryer.

I began the project using sand paper on the shoes.

After that I had a stroke of genius. What if I decided to mix the paint with water for the first layers of paint? If I soaked the surface with water+paint, wouldn’t that mean that the paint would sink in too?

I think it worked! The sponge brush I use in this photo is homemade. I used half of a kitchen sponge and taped it onto the end of a paint brush. Very useful!

After doing the first couple of layers like this, and after every layer heat up the surface with the hair dryer, I added only paint to the last couple of layers (With a “couple ” I mean five or six) and heated each of them with the hair dryer.

I also colored the shoe laces with the same textile paint. I added some of the paint in a plastic glass that I use for crafts, put in the laces and stirred with a paint brush.

However, the plastic ends on the laces did not take the paint at all. I solved that temporarily by wrapping a layer of black tape around them.

This is the result. I think I missed a spot!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andie Francese

Faded color on shoes is a common problem. Color fading happens when shoes are left in direct sunlight for an extended period of time. It is most notable on dark colored shoes because dark colors absorb light more readily than light colors. While the issue of faded colors on shoes might be stylistically problematic, it does not harm or alter the shoe, and thus many faded shoes can still be worn.The problem exists on both fabric and leather shoes and both can be altered with dyes to enhance or change shoe colors. Luckily, faded shoes can be restored to their former glory with a few simple steps.

Things You’ll Need

Black shoe dye kit

Leather Shoes

Step 1

Clean the shoes you plan on dying with soap and water to remove any dust or debris. Dry the shoes with a clean, dry cloth.

Step 2

Lay out newspaper on your work area to avoid staining the surface. Stuff the shoes amply with newspaper to fill out any creases.

Step 3

Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from the dye. It will stain skin.

Step 4

Apply the leather shoe dye according to the directions on the box. Each dye kit will have different directions for application.

Step 5

Allow the shoes to dry for two to three hours to get a sense of how the dye has covered the area. Reapply the leather shoe dye according to directions as necessary in order to attain the coverage and color you want.

Step 6

Allow the shoes to dry for 24 hours in a warm dry area before wearing.

Fabric Shoes

Step 1

Place newspaper in shoes so that any creases starts to bulge out slightly. This will ensure that the dye does not concentrate in creases and look darker in certain spots. Place the shoes on a newspaper-covered surface and put on latex gloves to avoid staining surfaces and skin.

Step 2

Apply fabric dye as per the instructions on your bottle. Remember when buying to purchase dye intended for the fabric you are dying. If your sneakers are cotton, aim for cotton dye. If your sneakers have mesh on them, look for a dye that is applicable to mesh. There are myriad dyes on the market for a variety of fabrics and uses.

Step 3

Allow the first coat to dry for several hours before applying a second coat.

Step 4

Apply a second coat if the dye has not colored the shoes as you wish, and allow to dry overnight to see the final results.

The same technique may be used to change shoes from a color to black.

Warning

Dye will stain skin, clothing and most work surfaces. If dye gets on hands or work area wash it off immediately with soap and water.

Do not attempt to dye suede in this manner. Suede shoes will be ruined by the dyeing process.

American Duchess dyeable satin shoes are specifically engineered to yield the best, most consistent results when custom-coloring. We’ve searched high and low for the best dyeable satin fabric in the world, to make it easier than ever to completely customize your historical footwear.

When customizing your satin shoes, we firstly recommend having your footwear professionally dyed, particularly if you would like to match a certain color. Your local shoe repair shop will likely have this service, or you may wish to try DyeMyShoes.com.

If you intend to dye your shoes yourself, we recommend International Fabric Shoe Dye, as it consistently produces excellent results. International Fabric Shoe Dye is available in 21 basic colors, and can be mixed for infinite variety. International Fabric Shoe Dyes can be lightened or darkened using International Fabric Universal Lightener or Toning Black, and can be mixed to create a matte finish on satin shoes by using International Fabric Dye Easy Matte. The 21 basic colors can be applied singularly, with just a paintbrush or dauber, but mixing custom colors takes practice and experimentation. If you are nervous about achieving your desired color, leave the dyeing to a professional.

How much dye will I need?

1 oz. pot is usually enough to dye our Bronte, Dunmore, and Pompadour styles. Most dyeable shoes will require 1oz. Fabric boots, and canvas shoes will usually require about 3oz of dye.

Dyeing Procedure With International Fabric Shoe Dyes

1. Test the color on a swatch of the same fabric. If your color needs adjustment, mix with International Universal Lightener or International Mixing Black until you achieve the desired result. Do not mix dyes with with water to lighten!

2. Clean any marks, cement, or stains from both of your shoes. Remove laces, ribbons, etc.

3. Apply dye with a dauber or soft paintbrush. Begin at the back seam and try not to overlap onto the other side of the seam or heel. Begin 1/8″ away from the seam, and allow the dye to seep into it. Move smoothly from the backseam to the toe, using quick, even strokes, then around the opposite side of the shoe to the back seam again. Re-dip your brush as needed. Blend as you go, to avoid dark circles from forming. Dye the high heel last, avoiding contact with the rest of the shoe.

4. Allow the shoe to air dry, keeping any objects from touching the fabric. Do not rinse.

5. If you do not plan to dye the shoes again, spray with ScotchGard Fabric Protector or Angelus Water & Stain Repellent, to protect your shoes from water spotting and reduce dirt and/or stain pickup.

Tips For Dyeing Satin Shoes

• Shoes must be clean before dyeing. Stains may be removed by cleaning the shoe with International Fabric Shoe Cleaner.
• Each type of fabric dyes differently. Always test the dye on a swatch of the same fabric from which the shoe has been made.
• Before applying dye, test the color on the sample swatch. Lighten the color by adding International Universal Lightener, or darken the color by adding International Mixing Black, in very small amounts, testing on the sample swatch each time. For very light pastel shades we’d recommend slowly adding the dye to the International Universal Lightener instead. Allow the test to dry completely to determine the final color.
• Light affects color, particularly sunlight. Match your color using the light source in which the shoes will be worn.
• Apply the dye to your shoes in one sitting, finishing the job completely, without interruption. Work quickly and evenly without over-saturating the fabric.

Tips For Dyeing Cotton Shoes

• Shoes must be clean before dyeing. Stains may be removed by cleaning the shoe with International Fabric Shoe Cleaner.
• Each type of fabric dyes differently. Always test the dye on a swatch of the same fabric from which the shoe has been made.
• Cotton shoes are very absorbent, and will take more dye than satin. One 1 oz. pot is enough to dye one pair of Bronte, Dunmore, Pompadour or slipper-like shoes; Three 1 oz. pots will be needed for fabric boots.
• Before applying dye, test the color on the sample swatch. Lighten the color by adding International Universal Lightener, or darken the color by adding International Mixing Black, in very small amounts, testing on the sample swatch each time. For very light pastel shades we’d recommend slowly adding the dye to the International Universal Lightener instead. Allow the test to dry completely to determine the final color.
• Light affects color, particularly sunlight. Match your color using the light source in which the shoes will be worn.
• Apply the dye to your shoes in one sitting, finishing the job completely, without interruption. Work quickly and evenly without over-saturating the fabric.

Our dyeable shoes have not been tested with RIT, iDye, Dylon, or Jacquard dyes. If you wish to use these or other types of fabric dye, first test on the swatch included with your shoes.

For more shoe care information see:

Information

About Us

American Duchess is a small, historical, reproduction footwear company based in Reno, Nevada, USA. It was born from one costumer’s inability to find elegant, affordable, comfortable and historically accurate footwear. Partnering with a community of hundreds of frustrated costumers around the world, we now manufacture a growing line of beautifully hand crafted Renaissance, 18th Century, Regency, Edwardian and Victorian shoes as well as reproduction shoe buckles and silk stockings.

Turn a pair of plain canvas shoes into colorful works of art with this easy tutorial for Sharpie Tie Dye sneakers!

I am hooked on Sharpie tie dye you guys. HOOKED. I made a custom mermaid tote bag a few weeks ago and I’ve just been itching to try this fun tie dye technique again, so today I made these colorful, happy tie dye canvas sneakers!

I bought a boring pair of white sneakers on clearance at target several months ago and I’ve just been waiting for the right idea to come along to customize them.

Materials

• Plain White Canvas Sneakers
• Sharpie Markers
• 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
• Medicine Dropper

You can use a lower percentage rubbing alcohol, but the ink will not spread as much, so I do recommend getting the 91%. It’s available at almost every drugstore or grocery store.

You can buy medicine droppers in the medicine section of the store too, if you don’t already have one at home.

Instructions

Step 1: Remove the laces from the shoes so they don’t get ink on them.

Step 2: Use the Sharpies to draw a design all over the canvas part of your sneakers.

Step 3: Fill a medicine dropper with rubbing alcohol and drip it onto the design. This will make the colors spread and run together and look like tie dye!

It’s that simple! You can customize these in so many different ways just by how you draw the design on, what colors you choose to use and how much alcohol you drip on.

I love this tie dye technique because it’s WAY less messy than traditional tie dying and is much easier to control the design and outcome.

This same technique can be used on any cotton or canvas fabric item… shoes, bags, shirts, hats, and bandanas would all be adorable!

Watch the technique in action in this short craft video:

I’ve gotten a few questions about if the dye is permanent. Yes! It’s permanent once it’s dry. I haven’t had any problems with it bleeding onto my socks. If you are worried about the dye running or fading, you can try soaking the shoes in a vinegar/salt water bath to “set” the ink.

Other brands of permanent markers may work, but I haven’t personally tried them, so you’ll have to experiment at your own risk. You can always try it on a piece of scrap fabric.

I used the same technique to make this awesome pillowcase:

sewing, history, and style

Having shoes that perfectly match the dress was the ultimate touch of luxury for the fashionable Victorian (and Edwardian, and quite a few other eras!), so of course I needed a pair of Emily pink shoes to go with Emily’s pink dress.

This is how you dye fabric shoes.

Start with your plain, undyed dyeable fabric shoes: (yes, they really do need to be undyed, and uncoloured – shoes that are already coloured/dyed have almost certainly been treated with a surface finish which will make it very hard for them to absorb a new dye, plus the colour that they already are will affect the colour you want to achieve.)

Tutorial: how to dye fabric shoes thedreamstress.com

I’m using a pair of 90s bridal shoes that I paid a whopping $8 for.

Try to determine if your shoes are silk, or synthetic (or, less likely, cotton or linen). If your shoes are a natural fibre like silk, linen, or cotton, use a natural fibre dye. If your shoes are a synthetic like polyester, you will need a synthetic dye. Remember that satin is a weave, not a fibre, and satin can be either silk or polyester.

My shoes are silk, so I’m using the same iDye silk dye that I used to dye the fabric for my Emily dress, a 3/1 mix of iDye Pink and and iDye Sunny Yellow.

If you are lucky, your shoes will come with trial swatches, for you to try your dye colour on. If they don’t, have a few swatches of similar fabrics for you to try your dye colour on – a selection of fabrics will give you a good idea of how your dye will look on a variety of surfaces (and hopefully your shoes!).

Mix your dye according to the stovetop instructions. I filled my dyepot with water, brought it to a boil, added 3/4 a cup of vinegar, and then added the dye. I stirred and simmered for 10 minutes to ensure that my dye was thoroughly mixed.

My steaming, boiling, very pink dyepot

DO NOT mix dye in a pot that you will ever cook food in. There are lots of chemicals in dye that you do not want in you! If you don’t have a dyepot, pick up a cheap one at an op shop.

If you want to dye your shoes a very dark colour, only use a small amount of water to the dye powder, to ensure that the colour will be saturated enough.

With the dye ready, try your sample fabrics and check that your colour is right.

As I was dyeing dress fabric at the same time, that got to double as my test.

My first dye mix, pure pink, was too blue pink, so I added a bunch of yellow to achieve a more coral pink.

The second, coral, trial sample on the larger blue-pink sample

You may want to blow-dry your fabric sample, or run it through the dryer to see exactly what it will look like, and to speed up the drying process so you can get to your shoe dying quicker.

With the correct colour achieved, I got to start on the fun part: dyeing the shoes!

Now, for fabric, you want to throw your fabric in the pot and stir like mad. This is NOT how you dye shoes.

Nope, you paint the dye on.

Fill your shoes with wadded up white tissue paper. I do not recommend using newspaper or coloured tissue paper as the printing ink & dyes can run and stain your shoes. You don’t have to do this step, but it does help to keep the dye from seeping into the inside of the shoes (I skipped it).

If you want to paint your heels a different colour, mark them off with painters masking tape, slipping the tape as far as you can into the join between the heel and the shoe. You will still need to be very careful as you paint not to get too much dye near the heel.

Using a wide, high quality brush, dip your brush in the dye, and paint your shoes using long smooth strokes.

Painting a layer of dye on

Paint each shoe with two full coats of dye. Ensure that the dye colour is even across the shoe.

With two coats on each shoe, it’s best to let the shoes dry.

The shoes after the first two coats have dried

Save your dye – you don’t want to switch colours between coats – unless, of course, you decide the colour isn’t quite right in the first two coats, and need to adjust the tint just a little.

Once your shoes are fully dried, they will probably be just a little paler than you want them to be.

Heat your dye solution up again, and paint another two layers on.

Painting the 1st layer of the 2nd set of of coats

The front shoe has a full 3rd coat, the back only the dried first 2 coats

Both shoes have 4 coats of dye

Set your dye solution aside, and let your shoes fully dry a second time.

When your shoes have fully dried from both coats assess them. Are you happy with how deep the colour? Has it fully covered and seeped into the shoes? If so, yay, your shoes are done!

If not, continue to coat and dry until the colour is deep enough to make you happy.

When your shoes are fully dried, you may want to spray them with Scotchgard or a similar product to fix the dye and protect them from spotting.

Update: Thanks to all the people who are finding and using this tutorial! If you have a question, please read all the comments as it has almost certainly been answered there.

Please note that it is very difficult to dye an already coloured and dyed shoe, and that you CANNOT dye a shoe a lighter colour than the one it already is. Nor can you dye a shoe or bag a colour that is across the colour wheel from the one it currently is. A blue shoe cannot be dyed red – it will come out purple. A green shoe cannot be dyed pink, it will come out grey or brown. Do not attempt to bleach your shoes to remove a previous colour. Bleach is a very harsh chemical and will seriously damage the materials of your shoe, significantly shortening their lifespan (if not ruining them immediately).

UPDATE #2: I am no longer able to answer questions on this tutorial, or respond to messages about it. It’s a tutorial: take it, experiment with it, trial a few cheaper pieces, and figure out it what you want is going to work 🙂

(this post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small % back if you purchase after clicking, at no cost to you- refer to ‘legal stuff’ in the menu for more info)

Sharing is caring!

Summer is right around the corner here and I’m excited to share how to tie dye shoes! If you have grubby white tennis shoes laying around, this is an easy way to give them new life. Or, buy a brand new pair and customize them! My kids are begging for a pair of their own now, I think we might end up with matching tie-dyed family shirts AND shoes by the end of summer!

This post was sponsored by Amazon Live; they provided all materials and compensated me for my time, but all opinions are my own!

I decided to go with a whole bunch of pinks & purples, putting some of my favorite colors all in one pretty ombre-ish stack. Once I started, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the other ways to customize plain canvas sneakers like this on top of the tie dye. Batik resist, hand embroidery, fabric markers, the sky is the limit.

I’ve used this Tulip one-step tie dye kit several times before, so it was a perfect fit to share it again with this post! This big one comes with a ton of colors, I loved having so many options to pick from. With this kit you just add water and shake, no soda ash needed, which makes it fast and easy.

You can see some spatter on the fabric if you’re nit-picky; it was starting to rain and I didn’t shake one of the dye bottles up well enough! I think it adds character though; making things look store bought has never been my goal.

If you like this post, check these out while you’re here!

Pin this tutorial for how to tie dye shoes with this link or collage image:

Ready to make your own?

Supplies

Steps

First, WASH your shoes! Get any fabric chemicals off that fabric before you dye.

Step 1: Use the painter’s tape to cover up the soles, carefully and precisely. I had one slip up and couldn’t get the dye off for anything (mineral spirits, nail polish remover, bleach, dawn soap, magic eraser) BUT it was easily painted over with white paint, if you find yourself in similar straits. Take out the laces if you don’t want them dyed too.

Step 2: I chose to get my shoes wet! I wanted nice, blended lines. You can start with them dry as well, just a matter of preference.

Step 3: Time to dye! I just gently squirted it on, starting with dark purple and mixing in several pinks back to a lighter coral on the heel.

Step 4: I used a paintbrush & water to further blend the colors.

Step 5: Wrap it up in plastic and leave it for 6-8 hours! Overnight is easiest, in my opinion.

Step 6. Unwrap, wash, and enjoy!

Would you wear these shoes? I love that tie dye is popular this year!

Here’s a craft that will satisfy your kid’s deepest desire to tie dye and your longing not to have permanent dye all over your house: tie dye sneakers. But not the messy tie dye you’re thinking of; this tie dye project uses just markers and rubbing alcohol. Cool, right? And this tie dye sneaker craft isn’t just for kids. Moms and dads can walk around with pops of color on their feet too, can’t they?

I’m going to show you how to make psychedelic swirls on canvas sneakers, but your family can also make designs on pillow cases, t-shirts, and tote bags. You can even make designs on some fabric and frame it for your kid’s bedroom. You can get as creative as you want. Make star and stripe designs for the Fourth of July or make star burst designs. No matter what, your family is going to be cool for the summer.

Materials:

• Canvas sneakers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Paint brush
• Sharpie markers
• Painter’s tape

Directions:

Step 1: Cover the rubber soles of the sneakers with painter’s tape. You may still get some ink on the rubber, but the tape will keep a majority of the ink off.

Step 2: Draw three swirls with colors starting at the top of the shoes and expanding to the sides. Make the swirls wider as you get farther from the swirl’s center point. If you are using yellow in your design, start with that marker first. If not, you may mess up your yellow marker by the darker ink bleeding into the tip.

Step 3: On top of the line, draw individual jagged perpendicular lines. Remember to make the lines small at first and wider as you move away from the center point of the swirl. Repeat for each color. Leave a little bit of white in between each color.

Step 4: Fill in the white in between each swirl of color with other colors (in jagged lines) until the shoe is completely colored. Remember, the charm about tie dye is that it is NOT PERFECT! So, have fun with it and if you mess up, laugh.

Step 5: Repeat with second shoe.

Step 6: Dip a paint brush into rubbing alcohol and then smear onto your design. Some sharpie tie dye tutorials suggest using an eye dropper to apply the alcohol. I find, however, that you have more control of the alcohol and smearing with the paint brush.

Step 7: Let the shoes dry overnight.

Haley Pierson-Cox

Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. She’s also sometimes an irritable cartoon named Tiny Cranky Haley.

By Haley Pierson-Cox

Haley Pierson-Cox

Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. She’s also sometimes an irritable cartoon named Tiny Cranky Haley.

@haleykscissors

Give plain canvas shoes a colorful summertime makeover with this fun tutorial for making tie-dyed TOMS that Maya from Maya in the Moment shared on the iLoveToCreate blog!

Click here to see the full how-to.

Haley Pierson-Cox

Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. She’s also sometimes an irritable cartoon named Tiny Cranky Haley.

By Haley Pierson-Cox

Haley Pierson-Cox

Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. She’s also sometimes an irritable cartoon named Tiny Cranky Haley.

@haleykscissors

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If you’re like me – I can never keep my white shoes looking white – might I suggest some dip dye shoes?

Things you’ll need:
+ Pristine white shoes
+ Fabric Dye
+ Salt
+ Vaseline
+ Baking soda
+ Tooth Brush
+ A bucket

Step 1: Slather any rubber lining of shoes with a generous amount of Vaseline Download windows 7 update files. The Vaseline acts as a barrier between the lining and the dye, keeping your shoes looking clean and more importantly, less DIY-ey. I find that some of the Vaseline gets dissolved or rubbed off during the process of dying the shoes, so don’t be stingy with the Vaseline dwg trueview 2015 다운로드. Once that is done, drench the entire shoe with water, just to get it damp. This will help give your shoes the much desired gradient look.

Step 2: To a bucket of hot water (anything above room temperature is fine), add a handful of salt tv팟 동영상 다운로드. The salt helps the makes it easier for the fabric to absorb dye (because science says so!).

Step 3: Now add in your fabric dye 스톤 영화. Don’t go over board with the dye at this stage – you will be adding more dye to the bath later on, to gradually increase the intensity of the gradient. A handy tip – If your dye is like mine, in a gluey paste form, it’s important to get all the clumps of dye dissolved or you’ll be stuck with patches of bright blue specks on your shoes Download the famous song of your memory.

Step 3: OK, on to the fun part vm웨어 10 다운로드! Dip the tips of the shoe vertically into the bath until about two-thirds of the shoe is immersed in the liquid. Let it soak in the bath for about 10-15 minutes 노트북 인강 다운로드. Next, take them out and hang them to dry vertically (I used a clothes hanger), while you add more dye to the bath. Repeat the process but only this time immersing less of the shoe in the bath so that it is darkest at the tip. Once you’re happy with the look of the shoe, give it a quick rinse until the water runs clear and let it dry completely 팟빵 앱.

Step 5: Your shoes are almost ready 남자의 자격 다운로드! Using a toothbrush and a pinch of baking soda, scrub away the coat of Vaseline.

Et voilà! You’ve got a pair of dip dyed shoes that’ll give your feet a pop of colour pspice 9 2.

If you’re like me – I can never keep my white shoes looking white – might I suggest some dip dye shoes?

Things you’ll need:
+ Pristine white shoes
+ Fabric Dye
+ Salt
+ Vaseline
+ Baking soda
+ Tooth Brush
+ A bucket

Step 1: Slather any rubber lining of shoes with a generous amount of Vaseline Download windows 7 update files. The Vaseline acts as a barrier between the lining and the dye, keeping your shoes looking clean and more importantly, less DIY-ey. I find that some of the Vaseline gets dissolved or rubbed off during the process of dying the shoes, so don’t be stingy with the Vaseline dwg trueview 2015 다운로드. Once that is done, drench the entire shoe with water, just to get it damp. This will help give your shoes the much desired gradient look.

Step 2: To a bucket of hot water (anything above room temperature is fine), add a handful of salt tv팟 동영상 다운로드. The salt helps the makes it easier for the fabric to absorb dye (because science says so!).

Step 3: Now add in your fabric dye 스톤 영화. Don’t go over board with the dye at this stage – you will be adding more dye to the bath later on, to gradually increase the intensity of the gradient. A handy tip – If your dye is like mine, in a gluey paste form, it’s important to get all the clumps of dye dissolved or you’ll be stuck with patches of bright blue specks on your shoes Download the famous song of your memory.

Step 3: OK, on to the fun part vm웨어 10 다운로드! Dip the tips of the shoe vertically into the bath until about two-thirds of the shoe is immersed in the liquid. Let it soak in the bath for about 10-15 minutes 노트북 인강 다운로드. Next, take them out and hang them to dry vertically (I used a clothes hanger), while you add more dye to the bath. Repeat the process but only this time immersing less of the shoe in the bath so that it is darkest at the tip. Once you’re happy with the look of the shoe, give it a quick rinse until the water runs clear and let it dry completely 팟빵 앱.

Step 5: Your shoes are almost ready 남자의 자격 다운로드! Using a toothbrush and a pinch of baking soda, scrub away the coat of Vaseline.

Et voilà! You’ve got a pair of dip dyed shoes that’ll give your feet a pop of colour pspice 9 2.

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Do you have anything in your closet that has gone unworn for months or even years on end? Maybe something you picked up from a thrift store with high hopes of a cute update? Don’t unload them just yet! There are so many fun ways to breathe new life into old or outdated clothes. Shoes are no exception. Canvas flats are one of those trends that make their way back time and time again. They’re classic, and just don’t seem to ever go out of style. That’s fine with me, because not only are they cozy, but they’re versatile and easy to revamp.

If you don’t happen to have a pair lying around, white canvas shoes are easy to find in just about any store. Craft stores are even starting to carry them right along with their plain t-shirts and other fashion accessories for easy decorating. They’re also really inexpensive and in many cases can be purchased for under $5. Find them on super clearance like I did, and you may just land a pair for under $3. Come on, who can pass that up?

With a packet of fabric dye and a little patience I’m going to show you how to transform a pair of plain white canvas shoes using a simple dipping technique. The end result is an ombre pair of kicks no one will believe you created yourself!

DIY Ombre Dyed Canvas Shoes

Materials needed:

• 1 packet of fabric dye, your choice of color (I used Tulip Permanent Fabric Dye in Teal)
• 1 large bucket, bin, or stainless steel sink
• 1 large measuring cup or other container suitable for measuring water
• Rubber gloves
• Plain white canvas shoes
• Optional: Vaseline

Instructions:

1. Mix your entire packet of dye according to package instructions. Use gloves to prevent dyed fingers!

2. If you’d like to keep the rubber trim of your shoes bright white and free of dye, rub a thin layer of Vaseline around these areas. Be careful not to get any Vaseline on the fabric of your shoes. I didn’t mind if mine absorbed a little of the color, so I took my chances and opted to proceed without covering the trim.

3. Starting at the heel, carefully dip your shoes about 1/4 of the way into the dye. Hold them there or carefully lean them along the side of our bucket for 10 minutes.

4. Lift the shoes while slowly pouring out any extra dye. Keep the toe of the shoes upward. Set them aside.

5. Add 2 quarts of hot water to your bucket of dye and mix well.

6. Starting again with the heal, dip your shoes an additional 1/4 of the way into the dye. Hold for another 10 minutes.

7. Remove the shoes from the dye, and set aside. At this point, you should start to see the beginning of your ombre technique.

8. Drain ½ of your dye, and add another 2 qts. of hot water. Mix well.

9. Dip your shoes another ¼ of the way into the dye. Hold for 10 minutes.

10. Remove the shoes from the dye, and set aside.

11. One last time, drain about ½ of your dye and add 2 qts of hot water. Mix well.

12. Dip your entire shoe into the dye, and let sit for 10 minutes.

13. Remove your shoes and let the dye saturate the canvas overnight.

14. Give your shoes a cold rinse and let them air dry before wearing.

How about a little sparkle?

It’s really easy to add a subtle touch of sparkle to these shoes. Just grab a bottle of glitter fabric paint and a small brush. Add a few vertical lines of paint at the heal of each shoe. Use your brush to spread the paint from the heal to the toe in a long front to back motion. By spreading the paint from the heal to the toe, the sparkles on your shoes will appear to decrease at the same rate of the color.

These shoes are perfect for little ones as well. After my daughter set her eyes on these she insisted on having her own pair too. Hmm, what color next?

I’ve been wanting dark green Converse for quite some time now, but the only green they offer is a kelly green. At Converse.com you can now order custom shoes from a selection of colors and prints. It is a pretty neat option, but costs $17 more plus shipping. I decided to go a cheaper route and bought white canvas shoes with plans to dye them green.

I picked up a package of dark green RIT dye (powder) from Walmart for $1.65 and gathered supplies. You will need:
– RIT dye (powder or liquid)
– bucket or sink
– old towel
– mixing bowl or old plastic container
– 1 cup salt
– 1 tablespoon laundry detergent

First you want to fill a mixing bowl or plastic container with hot water. I used an old Harkins cup. Mix in your powder dye until completely dissolved. If you choose liquid dye, you can skip this step. Next, fill your bucket or sink with hot water and add the salt and laundry detergent. I used a small bucket and an entire package of RIT dye.

Next, mix your dye into your water bath. Be careful with splattering and be sure to wipe up any spills immediately. Remove the laces and place your shoes in the bucket. The shoes will float to the surface, so to avoid this I used two bamboo skewers to hold them down. I left them in the dye for about 20 minutes. When your shoes look good and done, carefully empty your bucket. Rinse the shoes first with warm water and then cold. You will want the water to run clear.

I let the shoes sit for 5 minutes, rinsed again, and then set them on a towel to dry for the night. The next morning I threw them into the dryer and ran it for 10 minutes. Then I added black laces and voila: dark green.

EDIT: Frequently Asked Question

Will the rubber soles absorb the dye?
I’ve never had a problem with the rubber absorbing the dye, but I have heard of some people having issues. If your soles do stain, try scrubbing them with a magic eraser or with a paste made of equal parts hot water, baking soda, and white vinegar.

Hi. It’s 10pm now and we just got ice cream from the new place that just opened up downstairs. I’m so full right now, but I’ll try my best to power through this blog post. ?

So, a couple of weeks ago I found my 20-year-old platform Old Skool Vans in my mom’s attic. Yep, I bought them during college in 1998. All my skate homies used to laugh at them because back then platform sneakers looked kind of ridiculous and too Spice Girlish, but I loved them. And I was so excited I found them because I know platform Vans have made a comeback.

Found in my mom’s attic: Faded blue Platform Vans Old Skool circa 1998.

Since they were faded, beat-up, and yellowed, I decided to clean them up and bring them back to life. I’ve written blog posts about how to dye leather boots (here) and how to paint leather shoes (here), but I’ve never dyed suede shoes before until now. In this post, I’ll walk through the steps of how to use Sole Bright, how to dye suede shoes (from faded blue to black—it’s so easy there’s not much to it), and basically how I restored these old skool Vans to almost-new condition.

For Yellowed Soles

For Suede and Canvas

-Paint Brushes
-Painters’ Tape
-Suede Dye (I used Angelus Suede Dye in Black)
-Acrylic Leather Paint for the canvas and accents (I used Angelus Flat Black and Angelus White)
-Newspaper to protect your workspace
-Small disposable cups or bowls for the dye/paint
-Gloves might be a good idea, but I didn’t need them

-New laces (I used BBoy Laces because I like my 90s shoes looking phat!)
-New insoles (I actually kept the original insoles)

First I prepped the shoes by cleaning the suede. I just brushed them with an old toothbrush dipped in a mixture of warm water + dish detergent. Then I brushed them again with just warm water to remove all the dirt and soap. I also scrubbed the white soles to get them as clean as I could before I treated them with Sole Bright.

This was my first time using Sole Bright, but I must say it’s a miracle product. I have thrown out so many pairs of old Nikes because the soles got yellow and the shoes looked nasty. But this stuff can treat the yellow-causing oxidation and restore them back to white. Seriously, it works.

1. Shake the bottle. You can pour some out into a small disposable cup or dip into the bottle like I did.

2. Brush the Sole Bright on to the yellowed soles. Apply liberally, which means you need a nice, kind of thick layer. Be careful not to get the product on your hands or any parts of the shoes or other surfaces that you don’t want treated. This stuff is super strong and stings your skin.

3. Wrap the shoes in saran wrap. Place the shoes on a piece of saran wrap and lightly tap the saran wrap in place on to the soles. This keeps the product from drying out so that it stays activated.

4. Place the shoes in the sun. The product works with the UV rays of the sun, so you’ll need to leave them outside for 2 to 4 hours. You might need to do multiple sessions, depending on how severe the yellowing on your shoes is. I did two sessions.

You can also use a reptile light bulb if you don’t have a place to leave the shoes.

Before and After: Results of using Sole Bright after only 1 session.

1. Apply tape to the soles so you don’t accidentally get dye on them.

2. Pour some dye into a small disposable cup and brush on to the suede with a paintbrush.

I feel like I had so much more control with the suede dye than I did when dyeing or painting leather.

I decided to paint the faded canvas with acrylic leather paint. I don’t think the material would have taken up the dye, so paint seemed like the way to go. Coverage was awesome, but the canvas felt very crunchy when the paint dried. I didn’t mind though because the results were pretty great.

I also repainted the white leather details, logo, and striping.

Once the shoes were dry, I put in new laces. I also used a shaving razor to shave off some lint balls that were stuck to the inside lining of the shoes.

BBoy Laces! The only way I’ll ever lace up my Adidas Shelltoes and I guess my platform Vans from the 90s.

I’m so happy with how the shoes turned out. The whole process was so much fun and painting the shoes was so cathartic. I’m looking for other shoes to transform and restore.

Before and After: Platform Vans circa 1998 restored with Angelus Sole Bright, leather dye and paint, and BBoy Laces

I love how high the platform is, and I like the stripe detailing on the midsole. The current version doesn’t look this cute.

Thanks for reading and stopping by!

Sweatshirt :: Polo Ralph Lauren (vintage; thrifted for $10! similar Champion here)
Jeans :: Frame
Shoes :: Vans (current platform style here)
Bag :: MiuMiu (similar; budget-savvy silver detail here)
Earrings :: c/o @thepaperbeadprincess (I won them on an IG giveaway! I love how she uses recycled paper for her beads, and I love her positive spirit.)

If you’ve bought a basic pair of white fabric Nike sneakers, you can easily dye them to match your wardrobe or add a funky touch to your newest outfit.

Test your Nikes by quickly running the front tip of your sneaker under running water. If the water rolls off in beads, your shoes are most likely water-resistant and dyeing the material could possibly ruin the shoe. Fabric shoes are easiest to dye because the fabric absorbs the color. If your shoe soaked up the water, they are fine to dye.

Remove shoelaces and the insole from inside the pair of shoes.

Fill a bucket with warm water and add in soda ash. There should be 1 cup of soda ash for every 1 gallon of water. Soda ash ensures that the chemical in the dye bonds to the fibers of the sneakers and help bring out the desired color or effect your looking for. Soak your shoes in the solution and leave the shoes in for 20 minutes. Remove the shoes from the soda ash solution and let them partially dry.

Fill a bucket with warm or hot water and add in the fabric reactive dye. Mix well. There should be 2 to 4 teaspoons for every cup of water. Immerse your shoes in the dye and use the spatula to swirl the shoes around in the dye. Leave the shoes in the dye for 30 minutes to an hour.

Remove the shoes from the dye, place them flat in a plastic bag and set them on a flat surface in a room that’s room temperature. After 24 hours, rinse out the excess dye and them dry on on a flat surface covered with newspaper at room temperature.

I want to dye some canvas sneaker ballet flats black (they are grey). Will the dye run and is this even possible? Can you suggest a brand?

6 Answers

You have several options. First is to use a paint made for fabrics and paint the shoes. Set the paint with a hot iron and be sure that the iron doesn’t touch the rubber of the shoes. Another option is to use a laundry marker to colour them black. Laundry markers are permanent ink that doesn’t wash off. Don’t use a sharpie! Sharpies are not designed to be permanent on fabrics. Third option is something like Rit dye, from the supermarket or Walmart. You won’t need the whole bottle, just part of it. If you follow the instructions, it shouldn’t run, transfer to your socks and feet or turn the rubber black. The final option is to use shoe dye. This is often available at shoe stores or shoe repair shops. Shoe dye is usually recommended for leather rather than canvas and it can run, transfer and it’s quite toxic, I would try the other ideas first.

How To Dye Canvas Shoes

This Site Might Help You.

Can I dye canvas shoes?

I want to dye some canvas sneaker ballet flats black (they are grey). Will the dye run and is this even possible? Can you suggest a brand?

since your shoes aren’t white, it is not possible to dye it into lighter color, for example, it will turn into grayish yellow instead of bright yellow you thought it would be. but it works well if the dye is black or something dark.

you can dye canvas shoes using any fabric dye as it is not water resistant.

try paint pen, if you want to dye it partially and not the whole thing. hope this help. 😀

How to Dye Rubber Soles

Things You’ll Need

• Acrylic paint
• Plastic bowl
• Paper or plastic draping
• Sponge or cotton ball
• Fabric dye
• Small plastic bags
• Plastic gloves
• Newspaper or paper towels

How to Dye Ballet Shoes. Whether you are a ballet mom or an advanced ballet student, at some point in time you may need to dye a pair of ballet shoes. Since most dancers don’t have access to wardrobe professionals, mastering the art of dyeing ballet shoes at home is essential.

Dye Satin Ballet Pointe Shoes

Crumple up sheets of newspaper or paper towels and fill several small plastic bags.

Use the stuffed plastic bags to tightly stuff the satin shoes. This stuffing will protect the inside of your shoe from being colored during the dyeing process.

Select a liquid fabric dye and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing before applying to the shoe. You may wish to test the dye on a part of the shoe that is not easily visible before proceeding.

Put on a pair of plastic gloves and use a cotton ball or small sponge to apply the dye to the ballet shoes. You should wring out as much of the dye as possible before applying the sponge to the shoe. Remember that if you use too much liquid, the satin may shrink and warp your ballet shoe.

Allow the shoes to dry completely after the first coat and repeat until the desired color is reached. Remember that you can always go darker, but it is impossible to remove color once it has been applied.

Try a permanent ink artist’s marker for a quick color change. The color may not be as consistent as the traditional dyeing method.

Dab on some professional stage makeup to dye your shoes. This technique will create a matte finish, and it may be possible to achieve a subtler color change by applying “grease paint” to your shoes.

Dye Leather Ballet Shoes

Use caution when attempting to dye leather ballet slippers. Do a small test patch with aerosol paint before completely painting the shoe.

Follow the same stuffing procedures as with a satin shoe before you paint a leather shoe, and be prepared to let them dry for at least 24 to 48 hours.

Do not overpaint the shoes, as this will make them stiff.

Achieve a more consistent look in dyeing a leather shoe by seeking the assistance of a well-trained cobbler or shoe repair shop.

Warnings

Never dye damp or wet shoes. Leave worn shoes out in a warm, dry area for at least 24 to 48 hours before dyeing.

About the Author

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Rebecca Van Ommen/Lifesize/Getty Images

Faded colour on shoes is a common problem. Colour fading happens when shoes are left in direct sunlight for an extended period of time. It is most notable on dark coloured shoes because dark colours absorb light more readily than light colours.

While the issue of faded colours on shoes might be stylistically problematic, it does not harm or alter the shoe, and thus many faded shoes can still be worn.The problem exists on both fabric and leather shoes and both can be altered with dyes to enhance or change shoe colours. Luckily, faded shoes can be restored to their former glory with a few simple steps.

Clean the shoes you plan on dying with soap and water to remove any dust or debris. Dry the shoes with a clean, dry cloth.

• Faded colour on shoes is a common problem.
• While the issue of faded colours on shoes might be stylistically problematic, it does not harm or alter the shoe, and thus many faded shoes can still be worn.

Lay out newspaper on your work area to avoid staining the surface. Stuff the shoes amply with newspaper to fill out any creases.

Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from the dye. It will stain skin.

Apply the leather shoe dye according to the directions on the box. Each dye kit will have different directions for application.

Allow the shoes to dry for two to three hours to get a sense of how the dye has covered the area. Reapply the leather shoe dye according to directions as necessary in order to attain the coverage and colour you want.

• Lay out newspaper on your work area to avoid staining the surface.
• Allow the shoes to dry for two to three hours to get a sense of how the dye has covered the area.

Allow the shoes to dry for 24 hours in a warm dry area before wearing.

Place newspaper in shoes so that any creases starts to bulge out slightly. This will ensure that the dye does not concentrate in creases and look darker in certain spots. Place the shoes on a newspaper-covered surface and put on latex gloves to avoid staining surfaces and skin.

Apply fabric dye as per the instructions on your bottle. Remember when buying to purchase dye intended for the fabric you are dying. If your sneakers are cotton, aim for cotton dye. If your sneakers have mesh on them, look for a dye that is applicable to mesh. There are myriad dyes on the market for a variety of fabrics and uses.

• Allow the shoes to dry for 24 hours in a warm dry area before wearing.
• Place the shoes on a newspaper-covered surface and put on latex gloves to avoid staining surfaces and skin.

Allow the first coat to dry for several hours before applying a second coat.

Apply a second coat if the dye has not coloured the shoes as you wish, and allow to dry overnight to see the final results.

I want to dye some canvas sneaker ballet flats black (they are grey). Will the dye run and is this even possible? Can you suggest a brand?

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You have several options. First is to use a paint made for fabrics and paint the shoes. Set the paint with a hot iron and be sure that the iron doesn’t touch the rubber of the shoes. Another option is to use a laundry marker to colour them black. Laundry markers are permanent ink that doesn’t wash off. Don’t use a sharpie! Sharpies are not designed to be permanent on fabrics. Third option is something like Rit dye, from the supermarket or Walmart. You won’t need the whole bottle, just part of it. If you follow the instructions, it shouldn’t run, transfer to your socks and feet or turn the rubber black. The final option is to use shoe dye. This is often available at shoe stores or shoe repair shops. Shoe dye is usually recommended for leather rather than canvas and it can run, transfer and it’s quite toxic, I would try the other ideas first.

How To Dye Canvas Shoes

This Site Might Help You.

Can I dye canvas shoes?

I want to dye some canvas sneaker ballet flats black (they are grey). Will the dye run and is this even possible? Can you suggest a brand?

since your shoes aren’t white, it is not possible to dye it into lighter color, for example, it will turn into grayish yellow instead of bright yellow you thought it would be. but it works well if the dye is black or something dark.

you can dye canvas shoes using any fabric dye as it is not water resistant.

try paint pen, if you want to dye it partially and not the whole thing. hope this help. 😀

Updated May 13, 2020 By Chrissy (This post contains affiliate links. This means if you purchase an item I have linked to, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.)

If you’ve ever wondered how to dye shoes, we’ve got a great project for you that involves drawing on shoes with sharpies. In this DIY Sharpie tie dye shoes tutorial, we experimented with lots of designs so you can get some inspiration for your own sharpie shoes.

We had so much fun making these shoes.

The girls and I sat outside at the picnic table, and spent a couple of hours creating our shoe designs, and we absolutely love how our shoes came out.

The process can take as much or as little time as you would like…it all just depends on how intricate you want your designs to be. I have some tips and design ideas after the instructions below.

Related:

Make sure you check out our huge collection of tween and teen craft ideas for more fun ideas you’ll love.

And get inspired with 18 more DIY shoe decorating ideas.

Table of Contents

How to Make Sharpie Tie Dye Shoes

Ready to get started?

One of the things that’s great about this project is it’s pretty low-cost if you can find a cheap pair of white canvas sneakers. We found ours on sale at Michaels for $6 (sometimes they’re even cheaper!).

Here’s what you’ll need:

• colorful set of Sharpie markers (you can order these from Amazon)
• plain white canvas shoes (like these)
• rubbing alcohol
• spray bottle
• masking tape

1. cover the rubber sole of your shoe with masking tape to keep the colors from running onto it (we didn’t do this!)
2. use the Sharpie markers to color your design on your shoes
3. use spray bottle with rubbing alcohol to make the colors run all over the shoe
4. allow to dry
5. repeat if necessary, until you’re happy with the results

Sharpie Shoe Designs

We looked at a lot of tutorials and images and ended up playing around and experimenting with different designs. Here are some tips for achieving different results.

For Galaxy Shoes

Use black, dark blues and turquoise, purple, and pink. Use the black in splotches, and leave some white space between colors.

When your shoes are dry, add some stars with white paint, glitter glue, or rhinestones (like these) for added sparkle.

Striped Sharpie Shoes, 2 Ways

For basic stripes – Choose the colors you’d like, then create colored lines separating the stripes. Using bold, bright colors works better than lighter pastels. I first made mine with pastels, but the color ended up having more of a washed-out/faded look.

As you can see in the upper image directly below, the color runs down and creates a fade from dark to light on the side of the shoe.

Splotchy stripes – For these shoes, I still created subtle vertical lines around the shoe so that I would know where I wanted my stripes to go. Then, I filled in each area with dark splotches. In the image directly above, you can see where the colors ran from the dark splotches into the white space around it.

For Spiral Tye Die Shoes

Start by making guidelines for your spirals.

Then color in over the stripes, leaving some white space between colors. I actually had my colors pretty close. Overall, I’m really happy with how it turned out, but I think next time I’m going to leave a little more white space in between colors.

Here is the shoe above, after I sprayed it with the rubbing alcohol.

How Long Does it Take To Make the Sharpie Designs?

Obviously, the more elaborate you want your design to be, the more time it will take.

The first pair that I made, I went with a simple striped theme and it went really fast. The next pair I made, I chose the spiral design, and that definitely took a little more time and patience. It can go as quickly as 20-30 minutes, to a couple hours, from the time you start drawing on your shoes to when you’re done spraying them.

Once you’re happy with how they look, they’ll need time to dry. The recommended time is 24 hours, but ours were dry much faster than that.

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About Chrissy

Hi! I love finding ways to help busy families stay connected through games, crafts, and food. Lists are my thing. You can read more about me here.

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Hi! I love finding ways to help busy families stay connected through games, crafts, and food. Lists are my thing. You can read more about me here.

Aerie North, Designer + Maker ♦ Art Gallery Education

1. INTRO Tie Dye Canvas Shoes. Updated Designer Footwear

2. Overview + Class Project

3. Lesson 1: Preparing

4. Lesson 2: Materials

5. Lesson 3: Mixing Dye

6. Lesson 4: Applying Dye

7. Lesson 5: Final Thoughts

About This Class

Here’s your chance to become a designer. These aren’t your Nana’s 1960’s tie dye shoes. You will learn to create updated tie dye techniques with color education on modern ombre looks.

This is the perfect opportunity to create your own style starting from the ground up!

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The level is determined by a majority opinion of students who have reviewed this class. The teacher’s recommendation is shown until at least 5 student responses are collected.

Aerie North

Designer + Maker ♦ Art Gallery Education

Award winning artist, maker + teacher.
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Today, we’re sharing how to dye canvas drop cloth!

A few years ago, we dyed a large canvas drop cloth to use as a base for the stenciled curtains in our dining room. Those curtains have been one of our favorite DIYs. It seemed like we were changing up the curtains in that room every few months.

After we learned to dye canvas drop cloth and stencil drop cloth curtains, we realized they were so neutral, they could be used in almost any room in the house!

Decorating with Canvas Drop Cloth Curtains

We’ve been slowly decorating room by room, so that our home feels more settled. Part of that process is deciding what kind of window treatments, pillows and slipcovers we want to use in each space.

After we replaced the curtains in the master bedroom for the ORC: Master Bedroom Makeover Reveal, it left us with several canvas drop cloth panels. I knew immediately I wanted to try to dye those curtain panels to match the set of curtains we had created for the dining room too.

We love the look of washed linen for pillows and blankets. But sometimes it’s hard to justify the expense given we have mischievous pets, visiting littles and our pillows almost always wind up on the living room floor. Especially, after a movie marathon.

Thankfully none of that really matters because this drop cloth fabric has the look of washed linen with the durability of canvas. I mean, that’s exciting right?

Let me show you how we dyed our canvas drop cloths to get the look of washed linen….

Prepping Your Drop Cloth

The drop cloths I’m using in this post can be found at your local home improvement store. I made sure to wash and dry the drop cloths prior to dyeing them.

There are many different dye kits you can use, but I used Rit Dye in Pearl Gray for this project. It’s the same color we used for the stenciled curtains in the dining room.

Review Package Instructions Prior to Beginning

Rit Dye will usually have detailed instructions on the back and inside of the package. So, make sure you read the directions well.

There are several methods you can use (on the stove, washing machine, etc.) to dye fabric.

I decided to dye my drop cloth in an old pea shelling pan which is what I’m sharing with you below. Make sure you start with a clean container that is deep enough to cover the amount of fabric you want to dye.

You also need to make sure you’ve completely covered and protected any areas that may get damaged by dye color with thick heavy tarps. We’re completing this project outside.

How to Dye Canvas Drop Cloth Instructions

Using caution and care as water will be hot, place hot water into the container.

Next dissolve dye color pearls

and pour fully dissolved dye into container.

Stir until water and dye are combined.

The amount of salt you will add to the dye bath will depend on the amount of dye, water and fabric you’re using.

Make sure the salt fully dissolves in the dye bath.

Be sure you’re wearing gloves then using caution and care, rinse canvas drop cloth with water

before submerging the drop cloth into the dye bath. Allow fabric to soak until you’ve achieved desired color.

We let our drop cloth sit for about an hour stirring and repositioning the fabric every 15 mins.

Once you have the color you want you need to rinse the fabric until the water runs clean.

After you’ve done this step you’ll need to wash the fabric with a mild laundry detergent and allow the fabric to dry completely. Keep in mind, the more you wash and dry the canvas drop cloth, the more the dye will fade from the fabric.

That said, you can make a throw for the couch, pillow covers, napkins, curtains, a table runner. Honestly, there are so many great options.

What I like about dyeing canvas drop cloths is you can make them as dark or as light as you want depending on how long you leave the fabric in the dye bath.

They also have a nubby texture which makes them feel vintage yet totally durable. You can read about how we made a stenciled pillow for the breakfast nook here.

You can also see how we used a dyed canvas drop cloth for the bench in the entry makeover here. It really helped us to create a French Country feel.

Let us know if you decide to dye a canvas drop cloth! Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

A Guide To Dyeing Your Own Shoes

Have you ever been bored of a pair of shoes and wanted to do something about, for example, change the color? I know I have, with many of my older shoes. This time I actually decided to do something about partly because I was never wearing these shoes and partly to provide you all a post about how to do it in the leisure of your home. Let me start off by saying that while I am skilled in shoe-shining, I am just as amateur as all of you when it comes to shoe dyeing. I have dabbled my hand at it a few times, but would not consider myself skilled in any way. That being, I wanted to show you just how easy it is, even for a newbie like myself. I guess the first thing that you have to be able to do is swallow the fact that you just might mess up. But if you never wore the shoes anyway, then you have nothing to lose!

After a good strip job

Now for the nitty-gritty. First things first, you have to strip down the shoe. You can either use a product like Saphir’s Renomat or something a bit harsher like white spirit or nail polish remover (acetone). The Renomat is actually a leather cleaner, but if you rub it hard enough it will help to remove some of the finish of the shoe as well as the dirt build up that might have accumulated. The Renomat would be good for medium to lighter colors, but you would most likely need to use the white spirit/nail polish removers for trying to strip darker colors. Depending on the strength of the finish, it may take several applications of stripping. You do not need to take it down to the bare color of the leather, only unless you really want to get a light color as the base for having greyish/tannish textures in your new color. Once stripped, allow the shoe to dry overnight, especially if you have done several applications.

Note: many of the pictures below will be with or without flash to show the depth of the coloring

Now it’s time for the dye itself of which I used Saphir’s Teinture Française Shoe Dye, noted as the best in the industry (according to the patina artists). Professional patina artists use small paint brushes that apply the dye, so I went out and bought myself a few. I know that they have specific ones that are good for doing a fancy patina, but for a straight dye job, I think that any one will do really. Therefore, I purchased two, one for applying a lot to a bigger area of the shoe and another for applying a little to a smaller area. As I wanted to do the brogueing in a different color, I knew that I need a finer brush than what was provided with the dye. When ready, simply apply the dye onto the shoe. Always start with a little to see how easily the leather absorbs it. From this point, you can tell whether or not adding a little or a lot is going to suffice. More likely than not, you are going to have to do a few applications if you really want a rich color. For this shoe, I did 2 applications for both the burgundy and the black. Always allow several hours between applications, if not overnight, as the dye is quite harsh on the leather and can easily over-soak it.

Once you have applied the dye, the rest of the job is quite straightforward really. Now you just need to seal it all in with a good polish (in reality it is already sealed as the dye is permanent, but shining it up will bring out the colors). As you just subject the shoe to all kinds of chemicals, first things first is to apply the mink oil renovator to ensure that the leather does not dry up. Then after doing that, use a cream polish to enhance the color that you just applied and then finish it off with a wax polish in order to give it the shine that it deserves. As I said before, this is permanent so you do not need to worry about taking the new colors away. Over time, if necessary, you can simply use the dye as a touch up tool for when the color naturally fades. So now you see that an old pair of shoes can always be revitalized and made to look new and fresh again!

And, in the celebration of this post, I have decided to stock these products on The Shoe Snob webshop for those of you whom would like to give this a go!

Synthetic material is a problem! What kind of dye you should use all depends on the exact composition of the fiber used to construct the outer part of the shoes, as well as on the presence or absence of stain-resistant finishes.

Polyester is very difficult to dye at home, and polypropylene is impossible to dye at home. Nylon can be dyed, but it requires immersion in a very hot dyebath, which is not very good for a pair of shoes.

You’re probably best off with avoiding dye entirely, and using fabric paint, instead. See Fabric Paints: a different way to color fibers for more information on the difference between these two product categories. Look at the fabric paints at an online source such as Dharma Trading Company or PRO Chemical & Dye (see my Sources for Dyeing Supplies page for links to these and other suppliers around the world), or check out the fabric paint selection at your local crafts store.

Unlike your synthetic Nikes, cotton or hemp canvas sneakers are easily dyed with Procion MX fiber reactive dye, as long as they are not water-resistant and can survive being washed. You can just presoak cotton canvas sneakers with soda ash, then paint or squirt on different colors of Procion MX dye, such as from a tie-dye kit. Excellent tie-dye kits include those made by Jacquard, Dritz, Dylon, Rainbow Rock , or Tulip. The results can be very exciting and fun. Caution: do not use a hot-water dye, such as all-purpose dye, on shoes.

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Monday, November 10, 2014

How to color ballet shoes (and pointe shoes)

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Why Pointe shoes can usually only be found in light pink and what color are commonly used in dance

Back in the 19th century when ballet dancers were first starting to standardize their art and dance en pointe, nearly all of them were European and had fair skin. The thought was that if dancers wore light pink tights and shoes, their legs and feet would look long and lean because the color would just about match their skin.

Nowadays, many ballet dancers still wear pink tights and shoes because it is a tradition that honors the original pointe dancers. Some schools, Like Dance Theater of Harlem, require students to wear tights and shoes that match their own skin tones (in this case, most dancers must use makeup to “pancake” their shoes to match their skin).

Pointe shoes are usually available only in pink from dancewear stores and online retailers, but they can be special ordered from some manufacturers in colors like white, black, red, blue, purple, green, yellow, and hot pink.

A good number of artistic directors and costume designers like to bring a unique touch to a classical story ballet by having dancers wear different colored pointe shoes. Cinderella often wears white or pink pointe shoes embellished with crystals. Some parts in Nutcracker (Spanish, Russian, Soldier Doll) can wear black or red shoes. The Little Mermaid often wears teal or blue pointe shoes, and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz ballet usually wears red shoes.

You can typically find a plethora of purses and handbags in most women’s closets. Some look new; however, some reveal the wear and tear of repeated usage. If you want to dye your purse to give it life again, you can do this by keeping the surface material in mind. For example, fabric purses, such as cotton, rayon or hemp, are good candidates for dye baths. Vinyl purses, however, require specially-formulated vinyl dye.

Dyeing a Vinyl Purse

Lay newspaper or a plastic barrier down on your work area. Make sure the room you are working in is well-ventilated.

Shove newspaper into your vinyl purse. You want to stuff it full of newspapers so that it is an expanded form while you apply the vinyl dye. You want it full so that there are no creases when you apply the dye.

Wash the vinyl surface with soap and water or alcohol to remove any grease or dirt. Let it air-dry.

Use masking tape to protect any surfaces that you don’t want to dye. For example, if you don’t want to dye the strap, cover it with tape at this point.

Put on a pair of protective gloves and a face mask to avoid inhaling any fumes. Spray the purse with the vinyl dye. Follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding how often you should shake the can as well as the recommended spray distance.

Spray one side of the purse in light, even coats and be cautious about any drips that might occur.

Allow each coat that you apply to dry thoroughly before applying another coat. The surface should not be tacky between coats. Turn the purse over to spray the other side. Don’t forget about the bottom portion of your purse.

Leave your purse to thoroughly dry for about a day before using it.

Dyeing a Fabric Purse

Wash and dry your fabric purse beforehand.

Fill your bucket with hot water. Use enough water so that you can completely immerse your purse in it. Then, fill a large bowl with hot water as well. Put on a pair of rubber gloves.

Take your fabric dye out of its package and pour the powder into the bowl. Follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding how many cups are needed per package of dye. Stir the powder into the water in your bowl to dissolve it.

Pour the dye mixture into the bucket of water. Thoroughly stir the entire mixture. Soak your fabric purse in hot water before plunging it into the bucket with the dye. Submerse the purse entirely in the dye and stir it around. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. If you want a darker hue, let it sit for about an hour. If you don’t want to dye the purse strap, however, simply hang the purse from a broom handle and rest the broom on top of the bucket. This way, only the purse portion is immersed in the dye solution.

Take the purse out of the dye and rinse it out in your sink with warm water. Rinse until the water that runs through the purse is free of color. Then rinse the purse under cold running water. Put your purse in the dryer or let it air-dry on a clothes drying rack.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for each type of dye.

Here I will show you how easy it is to paint your own canvas shoes. The best part, you can paint used shoes or cheapies like I bought for $5.00!

I find painting therapeutic and finding time to paint for the pure joy of it doesn’t happen every week! This week however, I brought my paints downstairs and into the living room and painted my canvas shoes while spending time with my family!

The Queen of Whimsy

First of all I need to give credit for my inspiration for the idea of painting my shoes AND part of my designs, the checks and clock face on the sides and back of my shoes to Tracey Bellion!

Tracey Bellion of TraceysFancy is the Queen of Whimsy. She teaches others how to paint checks, harlequins, stripes, blending, painting with water just to name a few. I have taken several of her online classes and they are always fun and informational.

Click here for Tracey’s post on painting canvas shoes also!

Supplies You Will Need to Paint your own Canvas Shoes

• Canvas Shoes- used or new
• Black permanent marker, fine tip
• Choice of Dixie Belle paint. The colors I used are Honky Tonk Red, The Gulf (green), Amethyst (purple), Daisy (yellow), and Soft Pink.
• Small artistic paint brushes
• Water bottle or mister or small glass of water to wet the shoe down before applying your paint.
• Water-repellant spray-to seal your shoes when you are done

How to Paint your Canvas Shoes: Step by Step

First I drew my design I wanted on my shoes. I stuck with simple circles and ovals for flowers, hearts and checks. My signature logo for Piper’s Paw Prints is an upside down heart with circles for a paw print. So that was easy to replicate! #PiperApproved

Before I forget! Take your shoelaces out before you start painting your shoes!

When you have your designs on your shoes and the permanent marker is dry, you will need to use your spray bottle or mister and wet the area of the shoe you want to paint. I only misted the area I was currently painting.

Wetting the canvas shoe down before you paint your initial coat lets the paint soak into the fabric of the shoe. This will give it a watercolor effect and will cause some bleeding. For these whimsy shoes, that means character!

Once the shoes had their initial layer of paint on, I stopped using the mister or water bottle. As I went back to paint in the designs, I wanted more color in those areas and water would have faded the paint too much.

Here you can see some of the bleeding.

Adding water and then painting the first layer will also mask some of the markings you applied with your permanent marker initially for your design. But I have a solution for this!

Take note of my two flowers above!

Once I had the designs on my canvas shoes all painted the way I wanted, I let them thoroughly dry.

Once they were dry, I went back over the designs with the same fine-tipped permanent marker and outlined these areas in ink.

Not only did this make the designs on my painted canvas shoes POP, it helped to cover up any boo boo’s!

The final step on how to paint your canvas shoes is protecting them! I sprayed my shoes with water repellant spray we already had on hand.

TIP: The black and white checks. I just used the fine-tipped permanent marker to draw my lines up and down in about 1/2 inch increments (I guessed) and filled in the every other square with ink. Thats it!

Now I am dreaming of ways I can incorporate my Silhouette cameo into painting canvas shoes!

I’m thinking about adding small stencil designs like I did in a recent blog post here for a personalized sign I recently completed.

Let me know what you think and I hope you give it a try! If you do, tag me at #melissapetersondesigns #MPDtribe #PiperApproved

Don’t forget to tag Dixie Belle Paint Company at their group page Chalk Mineral Paint Enthusiast with #PaintItForward. Dixie Belle is donating $1.00 for every pair of shoes painted to Soles4Souls.

Also, don’t forget, I have a library of free SVG cut files for your Silhouette or Cricut crafts if you join my tribe! You can join below or click here to join!

Hope you have a great week and happy crafting!

Yes, this post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you.