How to Dye a Parachute for Photography and Play Silks

Before we begin, let me be clear that I don't know a thing about actually parachuting and I have no idea if my method would be safe to use on a parachute that was going to be used for actual parachuting. Instead, I am talking about using real parachutes for non-aerial activities. Nylon parachutes are AWESOME for a bunch of things but mostly I've used them as photography props and for kids to play with. You can leave them whole for giant floaty skirts (for dramatic photography using the wind or water to spread out the material) or cut them into more manageable sections for kids to build forts with, use as super hero capes, etc (the trendy term is "play silk"). But again- this is NOT about dyeing a 'Chute to use for jumping out of a plane. All my chutes have the lines cut so they can't be used for their original purpose.

Supplies

Parachute ( of course). Its important that you get the right type. It needs to be white since you want to be able to add your own colors. But most importantly it needs to be NYLON, not cotton. I find mine on ebay or at military surplus sales, most of them are old military chutes. They come in different sizes and shapes and the prices vary, but usually I can get a really big one for $100-$200. If you are cutting it up for play silks, this will make a bunch of smaller silks or one giant photography skirt.

Dyes: Acid Dyes. I get mine from Dharma Trading Co, either the ones they sell under the Dharma brand or Jacquard brand. You can buy the exact colors you want or buy some primaries and mix everything else. I mostly mix mine because I buy my primaries in bulk, but if you aren't comfortable with color mixing and are just doing one 'chute in a few colors you can just pick out the exact dye colors you need.

Acid: the acid dyes need an acidic environment to work. You can use white vinegar or citric acid. I prefer citric acid b/c it doesn't stink like vinegar and I can buy it in bulk, but if you are just doing one or two 'chutes, vinegar may be easier to find.

Squeeze bottles: You can pour the dye on with cups, but I like squeeze bottles because it gives me more control. Plastic cups will work in a pinch, though. Don't plan to use the bottles or cups for anything other than dye after this project, so either plan to use them again or get something disposable.

Large Microwave with turn table removed and as large a plastic container as you can fit inside it. This should go without saying but make sure there is no metal on your container before you microwave it.

Protective gear: You should wear a mask when mixing up the dyes because you don't want to inhale the powder. Once its in liquid form, I remove my mask. Please wear gloves, otherwise you'll look ridiculous the next day. Also, wear something you don't mind getting messy because this is going to get messy.

A large space where you can make a mess. I use an open grassy spot in my yard but you could also lay down a big tarp. Parachutes are really big so finding a spot outside is your best bet. You'll need enough space to lay the parachute out folded in half or quarters, but with room for the full radius of the circle.

Step 1: Soak Your Chute

I don't usually prewash my chutes, but if its really dirty you can toss it in the washer. No need to dry it, the next step involves getting it wet.

Fill a large sink/bathtub/plastic storage tub/etc with enough water to cover your chute. Mix in your acid of choice. The technical measurements for citric acid is 1Tablespoon per pound of dry fabric. I usually just eyeball it and add a little extra to be safe. If you are using vinegar, add a few good glugs. If you don't have enough acid the dye won't set, but a little too much acid won't be a problem.

Stuff the 'chute in and make sure it all goes under water. you'll need to poke at it and possibly place something heavy on top of it to keep it under water, they want to bubble up. I usually leave mine to soak for a few hours or overnight but as long as it is fully saturated with no dry spots it is ready. If you are in a hurry, squeeze it and swish it around to help the water get to all the spots.

Once you are ready to start dyeing, remove the 'chute from its bath and drain/squeeze out most of the water. You want it to still be damp, but extra water will just make it heavy and hard to spread out.

Step 2: Prepare Your Dyes

Acid Dyes come in powder form and need to be mixed with hot water. The hotter the better to help the powder dissolve, just make sure you don't melt your mixing cup/bottle. I like to add my dye, fill the bottle half or 3/4 with hot water, carefully shake while covering the top and aiming away from my face (when you shake hot liquid, it likes to erupt) and then once everything is dissolved fill to the top with cold water. Just make sure it has cooled down to a comfortable temperature before you start dyeing so you don't hurt yourself.

*remember to wear gloves and a mask during this step. The dye powder is very fine and gets in the air when you are measuring it out. Please don't breath it in. I wear thick rubber gloves (like for dishwashing) because they are easy to get on and off and protect my hands from hot water, but you can use basic medical style gloves if that is what you have

Measurements: I use 1Tsp per 64oz squeeze bottle, but there isn't anything magic about this amount. You can do double that much for a darker color or less for pale colors. You can also mix the liquid dye with more water in a cup to make it paler before pouring it on.

Step 3: Lay Out Your Parachute

This is where things start to get more dramatic. If you've done any dyeing before, it was probably neatly contained in a bucket or tray. But parachutes are BIG. I find a nice open grassy spot in my yard where I can spread my chute out as much as possible. I fold it in half so I'm dealing with a half circle and usually scrunch it up a bit so it isn't as wide. Otherwise its hard to reach the middle. I like to have the full length (middle of the circle to the outer circumference) spread out though since I like to do ombre designs. If you have a particular design for the colors you'll need to find a way to spread the parachute out that works. If you don't have a grassy spot, you can use a different space just make sure to spread out plenty of tarp/water proof drop cloth/plastic to protect the surface. Obviously, whatever is under your parachute is going to get really messy and dyes stain. Don't worry about grass or dirt sticking to your 'chute. Everything is getting a good washing when we are done.

**In my experience, dyeing parachutes with acid dyes does not harm the grass and any excess dye can be washed into the soil with a garden hose. I've been dumping dye water into grass/shrubs for 15yrs and never noticed any ill effects on my plants. However, I am not a biologist or environmentalist. Fair warning.

Step 4: The Fun Part

It is finally time to start dyeing! Basically, you just squirt or pour dye onto your parachute in whatever design you want, squishing it in with your gloved hands to make sure it soaks all the way through however many layers you have. Unless you are using white areas as part of the design, make sure no white spots are left undyed. You can mix colors in cups/bottles or mix them on the fabric. I like to think of my hands as paint brushes.

My biggest tip for new dyers: You can always add MORE dye, but you can't take it away.

I like to do ombres/color gradations so I start at the top (the center of the chute) and work my way down, mixing colors as I go to make smooth transitions. I always go back and add more dye as the work progresses and I start to see areas I missed, or spots that need more blending.

Once you are happy with how everything looks let it dry/drain enough that you don't have any puddle of dye and then flip the whole thing over by grabbing one long edge and walking it over itself, trying not to let it touch itself in a way that will cause unwanted color transfer. Letting it get fairly dry before flipping helps and won't take long if you are dyeing outside on a sunny day. If you have a very delicate design that will get messed up with blending, you can skip this step, but if you do you'll need to be extra careful that you got the dye smooshed through all the layers.

After flipping, you can add more dye to any areas that didn't get fully saturated before.

Let the parachute dry out a bit in the sun. You don't want it full dry yet, it needs to be damp to go in the microwave, but it will be easier to handle if there isn't much excess water.

Step 5: Heat Setting

One you are done dyeing and have let done of the extra water dry up, it's time to stuff the whole thing into a microwave for heat setting. I like to roll or fold it in from the outsides to make a long, skinny snake, then coil the snake into my plastic container. I can just barely fit a full sized parachute in my microwave, so I carefully but firmly cram it in. There will be some dye transfer but as long as you don't have a lot of liquid dye still puddling it should be minimal.

The pot of parachute goes into the microwave for 5 minute intervals. Each 5 minutes, check to make sure it isn't drying out. If it is, just pour some water in the container. If it gets too dry, it can scorch! Do at least 3 x 5 minute. For dark or extra saturated colors give it another 5min or so.

Even though the dye is now set, there may still be some dye runoff at this point because of extra dye that wasn't able to bond with the fabric. I like to remove the 'chute from the container outside or over a large in utility sink to catch any drips. Dispose of any excess dye. Be careful, the parachute and liquid will be hot.

Step 6: Washing & Drying

This is the easy part- simply toss in the washer and dryer! Parachute nylon is wonderful, easy care stuff. I use my regular washing and drying settings and detergent.

If you don't have access to a washer and dryer, you can hose it off, soak it in a bucket or wash it in the bathtub. Find a big bush or tree to lay it over and it'll air dry pretty quickly.

The dye should be permanent, but will eventually fade if left out in the sun too long or submerged in chlorinated water too often. If this happens, you can re-dye it or touch up any faded spots using the same technique you used to dye it the first time.

Step 7: Parachutes in Use

I have dyed parachtues for two very creative, artistic photographers to use. They style them as giant, billowy skirts and use them underwater and on horseback. They are incredibly dramatic! I don't have permission to use their photos, so I'm going to link to their websites.

Mareish Media for horses and mermaids: https://www.mareishmedia.com/

Water Bear Photography for underwater shots: https://waterbearphotography.com/

I have also used dyed 'chutes cut into smaller sections as kids' playsilks. Small ones before super hero capes or fairy wings and larger pieces make for the best forts. They are so much more fun than blankets because they let colorful light into the fort and are very light weight and breathable. They also fold/bunch up into very small stuff sacks for storage.