How to Dye Silk Flowers

Co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: September 19, 2019 References

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Dye Bath

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]
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- 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]
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Research source} If you’re using a container of liquid fabric dye, you should only need about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of dye.^{[3]
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- 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.^{[4]
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- 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.^{[5]
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- 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.^{[6]
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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.^{[7]
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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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Dip-Dyeing Silk Flowers

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.^{[8]
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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.^{[9]
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- 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.^{[10]
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- 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.^{[11]
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- 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.^{[12]
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Community Q&A

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.
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.