To enhance the color yield and improve the soft handle, hemp fabrics were treated with chitosan of molecular weight 4200 and degree of deacetylation 0.90, and then dyed using Remazol Brillant Blue R with mixed epoxy-modified silicone oil in different volume ratios. The structural changes in hemp fibers were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope, FTIR, TG, DSC, and XRD. The properties of tensile, bending, dyeing, and color fastness for hemp fabric were also studied. The results showed that when compared with the untreated hemp fiber, the thermal performance of chitosan/silicone oil-modified hemp fiber changed and the percent residual weight increased in the range of temperature 25-550 degrees C. The crystal grain size decreased and the degree of crystallization increased. For chitosan/silicone oil-treated hemp fabric, the flexural stiffness and tensile properties degraded. The maximum color yield (K/S value) was obtained when the volume ratio of dyeing liquor to silicone oil was 2 : 1. The color fastnesses to rubbing and wet scrubbing were also improved. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 174: 1377-1383, 2009