New dress!
Well actually it’s not really new at all, in fact I made it barely a year ago… it just feels like a brand spanking new thing somehow just because it’s a brand spanking new colour.
I thought some of the dye batches I’d made up for my Alabama Chanin project still had some oomph in them, and of course I am incapable of throwing out something that still has a use. I absolutely have to scrounge around to find a further use for it first. I selected this dress as a suitable victim, ahem candidate for an update. Its original pale baby blue was never really very good for me, really. I liked and have worn this dress a lot, but I had to admit the colour didn’t really like me back. It washed me right out.
But I still love the fabric; it has an unusual and very charming thing about it, some sort of hard translucent plastic has been “splattered” all over it that sparkle in the sun rather prettily, like random sequins or something. I only bought the fabric in the first place because I fell in love with those sparkly splatter-dots.
Anyway; I soaked it, plunged it into an old, cold bath of various mixed up dyes; iDye in Royal Blue, Golden Yellow and small amount of Brown, and left it overnight. The dye had so much staying power… the colour came out incredibly strong!
The buttons on the sleeves were white plastic and I was prepared to change them if the white stood out glaringly hideous afterwards. However the dye had SO much further oomph left in it that it actually stained the buttons teal as well. Win!
Another little happy side effect is that I think the darker colour makes my beloved sparkly splatter-dots stand out even MORE than they did before.
This color is so much better on you. I love the sparkle dots too. Very pretty and it's a really nice simple dress with some interesting details.
A lovely dress, gorgeous colour/fabric and very pretty sleeves. I have finished making another dress from Stylish Dress Book and will post it shortly. Love these books!
This post comes just in time for me Carolyn. I have a white linen jacket that I hand-tailored about 15 years ago. A few months ago after wearing it to a ladies spring tea I was told it made me look washed out. I took it off right away and handed it the person who commented. I asked her to please return it to me should she not find it a suitable wardrobe item…I am pleased to say she returned it to me two weeks ago and my first thought was to dye it. Needless to say I am super excited to have my linen jacket back and hopefully will transform it.Thanks for the "do not be afraid of the dye" comment…. I just needed to pluck up the nerve and get some inspiration and your blog has done just that!
I'm a bit scared of dye but I don't need to be! This is much better on you.
I love teal; this color looks great on you. You are truly a superstar!
That color really livens up the dress!
You are right! This colour is so flattering on you that it's practically a new dress. You have inspired me to try to liven up some old garments in my closet.
love that color on you. interesting you posted this as I was just thinking about trying to dye something, I have never done it. I think i will give it a go!
That colour suits you more. I love to dye my jeans when they get a bit washed out but still fit nicely. Jo x
You forgot to add the warning about dyeing being a bit addicting. 🙂
Love the look of the teal color!
I've been afraid of 'The Dye' since Grade 2 when my mum dyed my socks red for my house colour. They came out more deep pink than red, a great source of embarrassment as everyone else had proper RED socks. Maybe I should get over that, it has been more than sixty years now! 🙂
love the dress and the new color is amazing on you
Love it! I need to find a dye pot because all your dye projects are so inspirational!
I love the new color! And the splatter dots look fantastic!
My gosh I cant even see the sparkly bits before you dyed the fabric. Such a great result.
suddenly i need six buckets and a rummage through my closet….
What a great way to make an old garment new again! It was a pretty garment and now it's amazing!
Excellent luck with the resulting color! And the speckles on the fabric look terrific.
YES to the teal! Teal is a beautiful color on you.
What a beautiful color! I keep eyeing this book; this dress really is lovely.
If you weren't wearing it before, I am sure you will now because the teal looks awesome on you!
That's a nice sleeve detail too!
The teal is a gorgeous colour for you and the sparkles stand out better, too. . I'm terrified of the The Dye, or rather my lack of confidence to mix up some nice colours. I think I'll just enjoy your experiments.
What a great colour! I think it really looks way better on you than the old one, good job 🙂
Gorgeous colour, and the sparkles are so much more obvious now.
I can't think of any clothing I particularly want to dye but I'm sure there are some stash lengths that would be used if I dyed them. I must be brave.
I love the transformation dying brings to a garment.. I've just shortened and dyed a wedding dress for a customer. Now she has a soft yellow cocktail dress to wear on her 1st anniversary.
That's amazing. That teal colour almost matches the colour of the sky! The teal also shows off those shiny bits on your fabric. Nice job, Carolyn!
Fantastic transformation. The teal goes beautifully with your hair.
The dress is now perfect! Teal is definitely more 'you'. 🙂
Lovely! It's got me thinking about a thing that I dyed blue that's not quite the right blue. Now if I overdyed it yellow, would it become this fabulous teal?! Plus, I have this book and I thought that the sleeves on this pattern would be way too wide, flappy and annoying. On you they look fabulous so I might just have to copy the colour *and* the pattern!
This color is so beautiful on you! Love it.
What a clever idea, it looks so vibrant now.!
Great update!! Love the new color so much more.
Amazing transformation and agree the splotches are more noticeable.