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Flower Arranging and Floral Art
How to Dye Silk Flowers Download Article Co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood and Kyle Hall
Last Updated: March 10, 2025 References
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Using a Dye Bath
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Dip-Dyeing Silk Flowers
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Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 60,161 times.
Silk flowers make a beautiful alternative to real flowers. If you want to give your silk flowers a new look, you can dye them a different color using fabric dye. To dye your silk flowers all the same color, use a dye bath. If you want your flowers to have light and dark shades, try dip-dyeing them.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Using a Dye Bath
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1 Fill a bowl with hot water. If you’re dyeing a lot of silk flowers, use a large bowl so they’ll all fit inside of it. If you’re only dyeing a few silk flowers, a normal-sized bowl will work. Make sure there’s enough hot water in the bowl that you’ll be able to completely submerge your silk flowers.[1]XResearch source
Read the instructions that came with your fabric dye to see exactly how much water you should use.
2 Add fabric dye to the bowl of water. Use a fabric dye in whatever color you want your silk flowers to be. If you’re using a small packet of fabric dye, pour the entire packet into the bowl of water.[2]XResearch source If you’re using a container of liquid fabric dye, you should only need about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dye. Stir the dye into the water with a spoon.
The more fabric dye you use, the darker the final color will be.
Check the instructions that came with your fabric dye for more specific recommendations on how much dye to use.
Pro Tip: Fabric medium can help soften the look of your dye. According to Claire Donovan-Blackwood, owner of Heart Handmade UK: "If you want your silk flowers to look really natural, mix a little of your paint or fabric dye with fabric medium. It will water down the dye, giving you a softer finish."
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3 Remove the tops of your silk flowers from the stems. You should be able to gently pull the tops of your silk flowers (the parts with the petals) away from the stems until they separate. Dyeing your silk flowers will be easier if the stems aren’t attached.[3]XResearch source
If the tops on your silk flowers don’t come off, that’s OK. You can still dye your silk flowers with the stems attached.
4 Submerge the silk flowers in the bowl of dye. One at a time, dunk your silk flowers in the dye bath so they’re completely covered. It’s OK if some of the flowers float to the top of the bath. Once all of your flowers are in the dye bath, stir them with a spoon.[4]XResearch source
If you’re dyeing your flowers with the stems still attached, submerge the flowers in the dye bath so the stems are sticking up out of the dye bath. Rest the stems on the edge of the bowl.
If you're dyeing a lot of silk flowers, dye them in batches. Trying to dye too many flowers at once in the same bowl might prevent them from dyeing properly.
5 Let the silk flowers soak in the dye bath for at least 30 minutes. The longer you let your flowers soak in the dye bath, the darker the final color will be. As your flowers are soaking in the dye bath, you can periodically stir them to help the dye get all over the petals.[5]XResearch source
6 Remove the flowers from the dye and place them on a towel. Use an old towel that you don’t mind getting stained. Put disposable gloves on before you remove the flowers so your hands don't get stained with dye. As you lift each flower out of the dye bath, gently shake it over the bowl to shake off excess dye from the flower.[6]XResearch source
7 Let the flowers dry completely. It may take several hours for your silk flowers to dry. Once your flowers are dry to the touch, you can remove them from the towel and reattach the tops to the stems.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Dip-Dyeing Silk Flowers
Download Article
1 Pour fabric dye onto a paper plate. Use a fabric dye in the color you want your silk flowers to be. Pour enough dye so there is a thin layer of dye covering the entire flat part of the plate. Don’t mix the dye with any water. You want this plate of dye to be very concentrated so you can give your silk flowers a deep, vibrant color.[7]XResearch source
2 Add 1 part water and 1 part fabric dye to a second paper plate. Use the same color fabric dye you used on the first plate. The ratio of water and dye doesn’t need to be exact. You just want a diluted dye on the second plate that you can use to create a lighter color on your silk flowers.[8]XResearch source
If you have fabric dye in multiple colors, you can experiment by using a different color dye on the second paper plate than you used on the first plate. That way your flowers will be more than 1 color.
3 Dip the petals on one of your silk flowers into the diluted fabric dye. Be gentle as you dip the petals into the dye. If you want the petals to be completely dyed from the base to the tip, gently press the petals down into the dye so they’re completely saturated. You can also dye just the tips of the petals so the base of the petals remains a different color.[9]XResearch source
You can experiment and dip the petals into the diluted dye at an angle so some petals have more dye on them than others.
4 Dip the tips of the petals into the concentrated fabric dye. Don’t press the petals down into the dye or you’ll cover up the lighter, diluted dye from before. You just want to dye the very ends of the petals. When you’re finished, the petals should be light at the bottom and dark at the end.[10]XResearch source
Try holding the silk flower at an angle and rotating the tips through the dye to create a random, natural look.
5 Place the silk flower on a clean paper plate to dry. If you’re dyeing a lot of silk flowers, place them on an old towel to dry instead so you have more room. Dye the rest of your silk flowers and wait several hours for them to dry. Once they’re fully dry, remove them from the towel and display them.[11]XResearch source
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Question We will be decorating for an outdoor wedding with dyed flowers. Will they drip dye all over our venue and guests if the are set up the day before and get morning dew? How permanent is this? T. Chinsen Top Answerer Refer to the dye package for how permanent the dye will be. The manufacturers usually have a hotline where they can answer any questions regarding their product. Social media may have some answers, but the manufacturer can give solutions to damage from dye or how to prevent dye bleeding. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1
Question I have a lot of bright green vine leaves. Can I dye them in a pillow case in the washing machine? T. Chinsen Top Answerer Washing machines have a rinse cycle that would wash away most of the dye before it has time to set into the fabric. To add dye to a wash cycle, you would need to allow for the amount of water and be able to add enough dye to make it work. You will have to use far more dye than in standard methods. You could also end up with dye stains inside your machine. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
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Things You’ll Need
Using a Dye Bath
Bowl
Fabric dye
Spoon
Towel
Dip-Dyeing Silk Flowers
Paper plates
Fabric dye
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Co-authored by: Claire Donovan-Blackwood Arts & Crafts Specialist This article was co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield. This article has been viewed 60,161 times. 29 votes - 95% Co-authors: 6Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 60,161 Categories: Flower Arranging and Floral Art | Dyeing Clothes and FabricArticle SummaryX
The easiest way to dye silk flowers is to fill a bowl with hot water and add fabric dye. Take the tops with the petals off your silk flowers and submerge them in the dye bath for 30 minutes. Then, remove the flowers from the dye bath and set them on a towel to dry. To learn how to dip-dye silk flowers using fabric dye, scroll down!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Claire Donovan-Blackwood Arts & Crafts Specialist Co-authors: 6Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 60,16195% of readers found this article helpful. 29 votes - 95% Click a star to add your vote
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Co-authored by: Claire Donovan-Blackwood Arts & Crafts Specialist This article was co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield. This article has been viewed 60,161 times. 29 votes - 95% Co-authors: 6 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 60,161 Categories: Flower Arranging and Floral Art | Dyeing Clothes and Fabric Article SummaryX
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1 Fill a bowl with hot water. If you’re dyeing a lot of silk flowers, use a large bowl so they’ll all fit inside of it. If you’re only dyeing a few silk flowers, a normal-sized bowl will work. Make sure there’s enough hot water in the bowl that you’ll be able to completely submerge your silk flowers.[1] 
2 Add fabric dye to the bowl of water. Use a fabric dye in whatever color you want your silk flowers to be. If you’re using a small packet of fabric dye, pour the entire packet into the bowl of water.[2] If you’re using a container of liquid fabric dye, you should only need about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dye. Stir the dye into the water with a spoon. 
3 Remove the tops of your silk flowers from the stems. You should be able to gently pull the tops of your silk flowers (the parts with the petals) away from the stems until they separate. Dyeing your silk flowers will be easier if the stems aren’t attached.[3] 
4 Submerge the silk flowers in the bowl of dye. One at a time, dunk your silk flowers in the dye bath so they’re completely covered. It’s OK if some of the flowers float to the top of the bath. Once all of your flowers are in the dye bath, stir them with a spoon.[4] 
5 Let the silk flowers soak in the dye bath for at least 30 minutes. The longer you let your flowers soak in the dye bath, the darker the final color will be. As your flowers are soaking in the dye bath, you can periodically stir them to help the dye get all over the petals.[5] 
6 Remove the flowers from the dye and place them on a towel. Use an old towel that you don’t mind getting stained. Put disposable gloves on before you remove the flowers so your hands don't get stained with dye. As you lift each flower out of the dye bath, gently shake it over the bowl to shake off excess dye from the flower.[6] 
7 Let the flowers dry completely. It may take several hours for your silk flowers to dry. Once your flowers are dry to the touch, you can remove them from the towel and reattach the tops to the stems. Advertisement 
1 Pour fabric dye onto a paper plate. Use a fabric dye in the color you want your silk flowers to be. Pour enough dye so there is a thin layer of dye covering the entire flat part of the plate. Don’t mix the dye with any water. You want this plate of dye to be very concentrated so you can give your silk flowers a deep, vibrant color.[7] 
2 Add 1 part water and 1 part fabric dye to a second paper plate. Use the same color fabric dye you used on the first plate. The ratio of water and dye doesn’t need to be exact. You just want a diluted dye on the second plate that you can use to create a lighter color on your silk flowers.[8] 
3 Dip the petals on one of your silk flowers into the diluted fabric dye. Be gentle as you dip the petals into the dye. If you want the petals to be completely dyed from the base to the tip, gently press the petals down into the dye so they’re completely saturated. You can also dye just the tips of the petals so the base of the petals remains a different color.[9] 
4 Dip the tips of the petals into the concentrated fabric dye. Don’t press the petals down into the dye or you’ll cover up the lighter, diluted dye from before. You just want to dye the very ends of the petals. When you’re finished, the petals should be light at the bottom and dark at the end.[10] 
5 Place the silk flower on a clean paper plate to dry. If you’re dyeing a lot of silk flowers, place them on an old towel to dry instead so you have more room. Dye the rest of your silk flowers and wait several hours for them to dry. Once they’re fully dry, remove them from the towel and display them.[11] Advertisement 
T. Chinsen Top Answerer Refer to the dye package for how permanent the dye will be. The manufacturers usually have a hotline where they can answer any questions regarding their product. Social media may have some answers, but the manufacturer can give solutions to damage from dye or how to prevent dye bleeding. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1 
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