Using Permanent Color On Converse High Tops - The Canvas Part

[JaneYoung]

Has anyone ever colored the canvas part of your Converse high tops?

If yes, what have you used and how permanent is it?

Kara and I are thinking of a project that involves coloring a pair of white Converse high tops but we are a little concerned with Sharpies rubbing off or water making the color run. We've read that you can spray a sealant on the shoe after it has been colored and that helps.

Any suggestions are awesome and appreciated.
Jane

[MrForbes]

Permanent sharpies are not affected by water, but they are by some some solvents (paint thinner, WD-40, etc). How much do All Stars cost these days? used to be it would have been a low cost experiment (when I was a kid)...maybe times have changed....

[Karibou]

They're about $45 or $50 a pair (EEEEEEK), so doing an experiment on white ones isn't really feasible, and I don't really want to ruin my nice new gray ones to find out

[Lil' Lavery]

I'm doubting this will be helpful, and I'm assuming you're probably going to attempt to do something more specialized/unique. But you can make and order "custom" All-Stars on the Converse website.

[JaneYoung]

That's cool, Sean, thank you.

I think Kara and I are exploring our inner-shoe artistry. It's there lurking between the sole and the pavement. Maybe.

[Joe Ross]

How about a Laundry Marker.

[Carol]

I would think that the problem wouldn't be the ink running when wet, but rather that they would fade quickly, particularly the dark colors. Textile dyes are designed to be UV resistant and my guess is that permanent marker inks aren't. That may not be a concern for you though.

[Cynette]

I think many department stores offer a cheaper knockoff of a converse high top. I'd recommend experimenting with one of those first.

All I know from the Mom perspective is that when you want the color to come out, it won't. If you want the color to stay in, it won't do that either!

I remember something about using vinegar to set dyes in clothing. Maybe that would apply here as well.

[Fe_Will]

Originally Posted by Cynette

I remember something about using vinegar to set dyes in clothing. Maybe that would apply here as well.

Yes, vinegar is great for setting dyes (especially ones that like to run like reds) in clothing. Usually .5 liters per 3-4 t-shirts works well using the cold water setting in the washing machine.


...six years of being on a team with red shirts tends to teach you odd skills

[JaneYoung]

I messed around with putting words together for searches a little bit during lunch and came across a link that may be promising. I'm not going to post it here because I'm not sure of the source. I'll order a couple of pens and if I like them, I'll let you know.

In quilting, I've used a vinegar rinse with batiks and hand-dyes, it sets the color nicely.

Cynette, experimenting on canvas or cheaper shoes is a great idea. Thanks. All those years of doodling just may come in handy here. Let's see, 50 + years of doodling on scraps of paper, telephone books, homework, class assignments, letters, to-do lists, love notes. I'm well practiced. Get ready, Kara.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

All those years of doodling just may come in handy here. Let's see 50 + years of doodling on scraps of paper, telephone books, homework, class assignments, letters, to-do lists, love notes. I'm well practiced. Get ready, Kara.

Oh, it's on (you'll see what happens when I get put into classes where the teacher fails at teaching, have random bouts of insomnia, and doodle on my binders)

Back on topic...
Last year, while looking for cheap white shoes for pep band, I was able to find a pair of Airwalk-brand shoes that look exactly like the Converse low-tops. They were at Payless (do they have that store down in Texas?), and if I remember correctly, were only $10 o.O If I can find another pair next time I go shopping, I'll grab 'em and test everyone's suggestions out [: