Remember my Sew Bossy dress, below? It was very… sweet, wasn’t it?
I mean, I wish I could wear really pretty things like that, but I think I cannot! But
I thought it had promise, it just needed de-twee-ing.
I mean, I wish I could wear really pretty things like that, but I think I cannot! But
I thought it had promise, it just needed de-twee-ing.
before
I lopped off
the sleeves, so now they are plain little cap sleeves; and then dyed the whole thing
brown, using iDye, colour Brown.
So, I didn’t do very much, but it’s definitely made a ginormous
difference to my resolve to actually wear it! I kinda love its new look, still with an old-fashioned charm, but in a less cute and more prosaic way, reminiscent of peeling sepia-d wallpaper in a decaying old farmhouse, or something.
the sleeves, so now they are plain little cap sleeves; and then dyed the whole thing
brown, using iDye, colour Brown.
So, I didn’t do very much, but it’s definitely made a ginormous
difference to my resolve to actually wear it! I kinda love its new look, still with an old-fashioned charm, but in a less cute and more prosaic way, reminiscent of peeling sepia-d wallpaper in a decaying old farmhouse, or something.
Since I had used ivory
coloured polyester thread to sew the entire dress, after dyeing the hem
stitching really stood out and looked awful. I unpicked all the visible ivory top-stitching and re-stitched
using coffee coloured thread.
coloured polyester thread to sew the entire dress, after dyeing the hem
stitching really stood out and looked awful. I unpicked all the visible ivory top-stitching and re-stitched
using coffee coloured thread.
The little quirk of
dyeing is that you cannot always predict exactly what your results are going to
be. I found it interesting that
the ivory based print has come out a slightly purple-y shade of brown, while the
white cotton I used for the neckband and hemline piping has come out more of a
yellow-y, coffee colour. Aaah, the lucky
dip that is dyeing!
dyeing is that you cannot always predict exactly what your results are going to
be. I found it interesting that
the ivory based print has come out a slightly purple-y shade of brown, while the
white cotton I used for the neckband and hemline piping has come out more of a
yellow-y, coffee colour. Aaah, the lucky
dip that is dyeing!
And while I had the dye pot and
dye out I also re-ombred the top of my red velveteen skirt, which had lost a bit of its intensity
since I first dyed it a year ago.
dye out I also re-ombred the top of my red velveteen skirt, which had lost a bit of its intensity
since I first dyed it a year ago.
I’m a big believer in the transformative powers of brown dye. Such wonderful stuff.
Details:
Dress; dress “T’ from the
Stylish dress book by Yoshiko Tsukiori, original post here; with short sleeves, blue sprigged cotton dyed brown. My tutorial for basic one colour dyeing is here.
Stylish dress book by Yoshiko Tsukiori, original post here; with short sleeves, blue sprigged cotton dyed brown. My tutorial for basic one colour dyeing is here.
Tights; self-drafted, of
denim look jersey knit, details and my tutorial for making your own custom fit tights here
denim look jersey knit, details and my tutorial for making your own custom fit tights here
Shoes; Francesco
Morichetti, from Zomp shoes
Morichetti, from Zomp shoes
Skirt; Vogue 1247, red
cotton velveteen dip-dyed with iDye in Brown, details here. My tutorial for dip-dyeing is here.
cotton velveteen dip-dyed with iDye in Brown, details here. My tutorial for dip-dyeing is here.
That looks so much better on you. Well done for being so brave, it would have languished in the back of my wardrobe for years. Using dye is always such a tricky business. We have been enjoying the sunshine Jo x
http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk/
Oh, yes, Much Better! 😀
Amazing transformation! I've never dared to dye anything, yet, but you might have just persuaded me!
Yes, it is now "very you" but the original was cute too.
So there you are standing outside in the middle of the Australian winter in short sleeves. I don't think I could do that today in the middle of the British summer and we're having better weather!
They both looked good on you, but I love the brown better.
LOVE it, the original version was super sweet indeed and this one is more interesting 🙂
Oh, that is perfect for you now. I wouldn't have thought that such a small colour change (and the sleeves, of course) would make such a big difference – it wouldn't even have crossed my mind to dye this. You are so smart!
I love what you've done with this. The brown is so much more "you" than the white. Gorgeous!
You're right! It looks very you now and even matches your landscape. I need to find a pot so I can start dyeing. That red velveteen skirt is gorgeous!
much more your style, great job
So much more sophisticated!
Definitely more your look. The original was okay, but your modifications give it an edge. I love dyeing stuff, so much fun.
wow, what a difference! the brown dye certainly took some of the girly look out of it, in a good way. i really like how it came out!
Love it de-twee'd. Fantastic.
I like this so much; its got a completely different look. I love the way dyeing something can just transform it.
Hey,
great pictures and amazing outfits!
Love
Tabea
http://wolkedrei.blogspot.de/
Thanks for yet more wonderful dyeing inspiration. Love the results–definitely ought to make that piece something you'll reach for over and over.
wow, that is much more 'Carolyn'. You have such a mastery of your style. It looks more chic and antique.
I agree with the dyeing inspiration – I have only really done it once with tea for some trim that needed to go from white to beige/coffee colour (or tea)……..
Like both versions so win win.
Wow, that dress is now a lot more you. You have such a way with transforming fabric/garments.
You just lifted this dress to a whole new level with just one dip in the dye-pot! Now it is very 'you' wearable…J
To be honest, I really liked the original dress on you. I thought it suited your coloring and looked very fresh on you with your auburn hair. That said, I can see how the brown has made it more wearable and I like it a lot too. I am a big dye fan myself and dye things all the time. I love not really ever knowing how it will turn out. There is always a risk and it is a risk that I am always excited about taking. Which is weird, as I am often too scared to cut into fabrics but hey, I will chuck anything into a batch of dye.
Ah, I feel much better now! Normal service has been resumed :))
Oh the dress is so much edgier now! I love it paired with your tights in the first picture. All those earthy colours suit you so well.
That's almost exactly what I was going to say. And I love those tights!
Love what you have done with the dress. Made it more sophisticated.
I like it! It works very well on you in this new shade!
I too have been caught with polyester thread not taking colour, but I think along with the unpredictability of colour – what amazes me is that you get it all so EVEN – the biggest drawback I have is getting the dye to colour evenly, although it doesn't matter on the Ombre dyeing of course, but the dress is so much better being 'antiqued'.
Great transformation. So much more you! Thanks for the great tip about brown dye.
Simple transformation but agree I can see you wearing this version a lot more often.
The colour is more you now, and looking slightly vintage and worn already!
I love the new color! It looks lovely on you.
Wow, totally different! I think that now is more "Carolyn", if it can tell this 🙂
The colour suits you Carolyn, the white was too prissy and stark – and the colour is now "Autumn", and much more natural. Great improvement 🙂
Love it. Exactly like sepia photos. And doesn't look so cutesy any more which would've been fine on a 5 year old but good decision to dye it. 🙂
I like thew dyed dress a lot better! I should start experimenting with dying fabrics muself- it's on my mind for some time now…..
Now that is definitely your style. The muted colours are much more wearable as is the sleeve style.
Yes, I'm astonished at how many things I love the look of, but which I don't think would suit me – cute prints, puff sleeves, peter pan collars, most lace, even empire waist lines…I should just start sewing for the granddaughter, eh? I agree that browning things does improve their quality – sort of an aging process like antiques or fine wine (not that I would recognise one). I'm currently knitting a wool 'bowl' and adding a brim. It will all be felted down and hopefully will have a hat-like shape. A friend made one but it had quite a wavy brim, so I'm not increasing as much as she did. I don't tend to buy expensive wool that will felt, and I'm running short of the cream coloured wool I was given. I'm planning to finish it off, if needed, with some salmon coloured wool that belonged to my MIL. Salmon definitely does not suit me but the whole thing is a big experiment anyhow. If the shape and size work out, I was thinking of attacking it with brown dye to hopefully tone down the salmon. Cross your fingers for me!
Great save 🙂
Carolyn, this is a great save-t is totally you now, and much less "twee" (to borrow your wordage). Love it.
Amazing refashion. Last week, you made all your readers want to make a swimsuit. Today, we all want to play with colours !
I do like the brown version better. 🙂
LOVE how you transformed the dress into something that's more "you". You look great in the new version!
I love the combination of blue and brown. I noticed it on my teaching partner today and thought I would like to incorporate the combo into something myself before reading your post. The floral print adds the perfect touch. I am wondering what Reana Louise thinks of your refashion. I think the personalization makes the Sew Bossy challenge even more interesting.
I also love the way you have transformed this into a version that suits you. Your posts keep reminding me that I don't have to tolerate colours that don't suit me. I liked the original but think this iteration is much more interesting and less predictable.
Very beautiful dress!
Your new dress is definitely more you and looks lovely. I am impressed by your dedication too in unpicking the topstitching. It is good that your hard work in making this dress will now be utilized.
This looks much more like you, but I also loved the first version. So sweet. I love this kind of dresses so much but never found the right pattern. I should have a look at that book!
Much better! I love the new look of your dress, it's amazing how a little dye can make such a big difference. Aaand, unpicking and restitching the hem – I would've been to lazy and hoped that no-one would notice it to do that 🙂