Martha Stewart Living, June 2009
Canvas sneakers are comfy and cool, but you may not find them in colors you want. Put a spring in your step by setting the shade yourself. With fabric dye, its a cinch to match them to your wardrobe or your mood.
Tools and Materials
Large basin or bucket
Liquid fabric dye
Salt (if needed; check dye directions)
White canvas sneakers, laces removed
Dyed Sneakers How-To
1. Fill basin with hot water. Add dye, and salt if specified, to water, following manufacturer's instructions for sink or bucket dyeing.
2. Wet sneakers with hot water, and place in dye bath.
3. Stir for amount of time stated on dye bottle. Rinse as directed.
4. Air-dry shoes, or place in dryer.
5. Clean basin immediately to avoid staining.
You can wrap the soles with masking tape, really tightly and with a few layers.
This is frustrating! I have dyed many canvas shoes and the sole always dyes along with it! These pictures are misleading, there is no way following these directions that the insides and soles wouldn't also get colored. If someone knows the trick I wish they would share!
I was wondering the same thing. Is there something we can put on the rubber to keep it from dyeing it also?
How do you prevent the dye from also colouring the white rubber bit around the sole, and the inside bit? If the dye will stain the basin, doesn't it follow that the whole shoe would also get dyed?
I recently bought a pair of converse, and at first I found the bright green color original and fun, but now I realize they don't go with any of my clothes (color-wise)... If I dye them, will they be some sort of green murky color ? I don't want to do anything too risky...
Another fun thing to do with canvas shoes is to coat them with 'gesso' (like artists do with canvas) available at any art store or joan fabrics, and then paint the sneakers any way you'd like using acrylic or oil paints (like an artist would). You could probably even use fabric markers on the gesso too.
I like this idea, but am wondering if the dye will rub of on your feet?
You can find some at rite aid
heidiraat, for this story, we used sneakers from Keds, keds.com
rite aid or sometimes kmart. but for sure rite aid
I am also wondering about who makes the elasticized shoes - do tell, please! :)
I love this idea and these shoes? What brand are the elastic ones, they do not appear to be keds. Where can I get them?