To dye or not to dye - that is the question.

Luis

My granny is a proper 'Old Style Saver' - she even spins her own wool, knits with it and dyes it with natural things like onions, beetroot etc.

Ends up with beautiful, soft, unique items in gorgeous natural colours.

She also does things like washout bags and use them again, makes patchwork with left over material, uses all her food leftovers, composts, makes her own cards and presents - and to sell at local fairs etc, makes her own curtains and soft furnishings, thins paint down etc etc.

She says it is because of being bought up during the war, where 'waste not want not' was the motto.

Because of her, I never think I have got the most out of a roast until I have had about 4 meals out of it, including boiling the carcass for stock and saving it!

Good point from Galtizz about the stitching - it does have a delicate emroidery bit on it. Rats. I'm gutted as it is such a lovely dress, but believe me - you can see everything through it! :eek: It will look ridiculous if I dye it and the pattern goes pale pink or stays white.Having said that though, I can't really wear it as it is.

Hmmmmmmm.........

elona

This may be a daft idea - but for 99p - could you buy a second identical dress and wear the two together?

Mrs_Thrift

Or find a slip for a similarly low price to wear under it? Or you might even have a nightie that would do the job - I have a slip and a nightie that are almost identical; knee length, cream satin, thin straps.

Luis

I think I will have a look for a slip - the idea of the dress (because I SO do not do dresses normally lol) is that we are 'orf t'egypt' in May, and it wil be tres hot, so I thought a few cheapies would be good for the evening.

Like I say - I would think 'oh well, never mind' if it weren't for the fact that it looks and fits so well.

Off to Ebay again for a slip.......... :rotfl:

Edinburghlass_2

Luis wrote:

I think I will have a look for a slip - the idea of the dress (because I SO do not do dresses normally lol) is that we are 'orf t'egypt' in May, and it wil be tres hot, so I thought a few cheapies would be good for the evening.

Like I say - I would think 'oh well, never mind' if it weren't for the fact that it looks and fits so well.

Off to Ebay again for a slip.......... :rotfl:

Ah but when away from home, no-one will see you that you know so I would just wear the dress, once you are suitably bronzed

Luis

lol true, true!

Anyway - I have just got the dress out of the machine, it has dyed a gorgeous red colour (all over, phew), and I am just waiting for it to dry to try it on and see if it is as 'see throughable' as it was when it was white.

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice.

ally1974

I have an evening wedding reception to attend and haven't a thing to wear! Well, actually I do if I can bring myself to dye a white dress a different colour. I can't wear white, obviously, but I LOVE this dress so much and can't afford another one so am in a quandry. I bought the dress ten years ago from a 2nd hand shop and it's handmade. It's a bit tight around the ribcage but I think I could get away with it as I'm quite skinny. I haven't been able to get rid of it as I adore it so much. But I can't afford a new one, or a least one that looks so good on me!
I think it might be made of polyester. It has a lining that I'm sure is polyester, then the top material is shiny with matt flowers over it, all white, and if I said it looks like those chinese-type dresses would that make sense? Can I dye it successfully and with what? And do you think I could remove the dye and return it to it's lovely whiteness?
Any help greatly appreciated.

black-saturn

Is it one of those chinese dresses with embroidery on or a pattern? You can dye it but if it has a pattern or embroidery it will get dyed too. Also if it is polyester the dye won't take as well as if it was a natural fibre like cotton.

As for the sizing you could use some of the lining material to take it out (make it a bit bigger) or take it to a tailors who will do it for about £5.00. if it's a dress you love it might be worth paying for this so you can use it again

fudgem

If you love this dress so much, leave it alone. You will probably ruin it so still won't have anything to wear at the reception. I can't see anything wrong in you going in white anyway, unless it looks like a wedding dress?

janeawej

polyester will not take the dye properly and will go blotchy, why not dress it up with bright scarf/belt/wrap to make it a bit brighter