Dyeing a Tilley Wanderer T3?

[Nice65]

Well, don’t. It can’t be done

Bought a sachet of Dylon hand wash dye in grey, the hat was a very faded green. Followed the instructions, but it’s not my first Dylon sesh so I’m pretty familiar. Wash, leave damp etc

Hat dried with zero difference, a bit of grey showing but nothing has bonded to the fibres.

The hat is a bit like Ventile, it swells when wet and gets pretty solid. So I tried another sachet, but plunged the hat in dry to take up the dye.

Nup, it’s not having it. I have one more sachet I was saving for when I ruin enough whites in the washing machine to create grey t-shirts. Might try really hot water and a lot less of it.

 

[Diamond Dave]

It’s got character……

 

[John Fenna]

I dyed a T3 using tea and coffee with good results.....

 

[Nice65]

It’s got character……

Hello Dave

It has. Though the idea was to darken it to accompany a Barbour Dunnon in black/dark grey. The Dunnon is a nice jacket but has a narrow collar, no pop studs on it.

A bit more research into the Tilley and it looks like it's a polyester material, hence the colour not taking. I could RIT dye it, but I quite like the patchy look so may just leave it as is.

@John Fenna Iwonder if the oils in the tea and coffee bind better?

 

[John Fenna]

Ah - mine was 100% cotton canvas...

 

[Nice65]

Ah - mine was 100% cotton canvas...

AI overview says it's 100% cotton duck canvas. I could just about read 'polyester' on one of the frayed labels, but maybe that's the internal pocket bit.

So, it should take dye, but doesn't

 

[Diamond Dave]

Hello Dave

It has. Though the idea was to darken it to accompany a Barbour Dunnon in black/dark grey. The Dunnon is a nice jacket but has a narrow collar, no pop studs on it.

A bit more research into the Tilley and it looks like it's a polyester material, hence the colour not taking. I could RIT dye it, but I quite like the patchy look so may just leave it as is.

@John Fenna Iwonder if the oils in the tea and coffee bind better?

Evening Rich,
Grey dyes can be sensitive to certain colours or the DWR finish is stopping the colour penetration.