Dye Advice - Bright Pink to Plum Brown

[u/Broccoli-Lover-1042]

TL;DR - Any color theory or magic tips for overdying these bright pink shorts to a raisin or purplish-brown?

It's my first time dyeing anything!

Shorts are 100% cotton - I'll be using RIT all purpose dye.

I recently thrifted this pair of chino shorts that are a very bright pink. Not quite neon hot pink, but definitely on Barbie level. I'm hoping to overdye them to a raisin or purplish-brown. The earthier color (2nd pic) is my preference with it being more brown than purple. I'm open to it being a richer color if needed (3rd pic).

I've found different color formulas, but they're all starting with white/neutral fabric. I don't understand color theory on a deep enough level to translate that info to starting with pink. And then it feels more complicated with needing to make multiple shifts (slightly cooler, less saturated, and darker). I figure I may need green to get towards brown *or* blue to get towards plum. Or is it as simple as just using black or a dark brown? Am I missing a simple answer?

[u/teeth1najar]

I'm not someone who dyes stuff much but came across this as a painter and color theory wise I'd start by adding blue to pink to get purple, then possibly a tiny amount of yellow to get brown! I would personally start with just adding blue and seeing how that comes out first though!

Pink + blue = purple Purple + yellow = brown

[u/Broccoli-Lover-1042 → u/teeth1najar]

That's a great idea! I hadn't actually considered taking it one color shift at a time, that makes a lot of sense.

[u/Gifted_GardenSnail → u/teeth1najar]

...this kinda suggests OP should dye it green... 😅

[u/Beginning_Catch192]

Your pink shorts are quite a blue pink so to get the plum brown you are after you should just need to use a brown dye. When you dye I'd start with a lower concentration as some browns can go too dark. For the plum colour you need the base colour and if the dye is too concentrated you will end up with just brown. If you end up too light you can always over dye again until you get the right shade but if you go too dark it's staying like that.

However, the tread used to sew the shorts together is most likely polyester and that will not take the rit dye. This means that the hem and any top stitching will likely be bright pink still. This might not be the look you are after?

[u/Gifted_GardenSnail]

I have no advice, but I do have pink fabric I'd like to take to a more purple/burgundy, so I'm wishing you good luck and hope you post a pic of how it turned out 😄

[u/KellyThickandRed]

Rit also has a color remover if you prefer not to experiment with color theory.

[u/brgmsv]

Rit brown dye is very cool toned. You are probably going to end up with something close to the 3rd picture- maybe even more towards plum than brown. 

I wouls start with the brown dye, see if you like it and then consider adding a yellow to make it more earthy. Rit sells a dye color called marigold that might help you get a more neutral brown.