Dyeing

Jean Jacket Transformation

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

I recently bought a jean jacket on clearance. Actually, I bought two of them. The price was just too good not to get two and then transform them both.

I don’t wear a lot of denim. I just don’t love it. But I was out shopping/looking with a friend and she took me to her favorite store. I fell in love with a jean jacket there.

I don’t know that I love the jacket. It’s the embroidery I love! It gave me ideas to do something similar. As well, the $300 price tag was a definite no-love.

So with that in mind, and then seeing the clearance. I bought two jean jackets for less than the price of one at regular price.

  It looks a little washed out, doesn’t it? Well, not for long. I also love this style, so was happy to play with it.

I bought a big pot, and some dye that would work with this fabric. It isn’t 100% cotton. 

I wanted a big pot to make sure the jacket would be submerged.

And the results: Oh! I’m so happy with this! SO HAPPY! It turned out beautifully.

I was so happy, I immediately started on the second jacket.

This one is teal blue.      I think they both look great! I was kind of thinking one might not look as good, and that would be the one I’d do some embroidery on, but I can’t decide now. I love how both of them turned out.

I’ll let you know which one ends up with some flowers. Which one do you think?

Happy creating!

Burnt Orange is a Lovely Color

~ Michelle ~ 2 Comments

I love my new Josey in Burnt Orange with that gorgeous Autumn Glory lace. (See my previous post to find this bra kit.)

The colors are so rich and vibrant.

I had to make some matchy matchy to go with this lovely bra.

I pulled out my two favorite patterns, but I have to admit, one of them is out-ranking the other one now.

I started with my favorite of many years now – KwikSew 2286.

This looks like an adorable hipster, but it sits much higher on. 

Here’s my newest match.

I looked around, but I couldn’t find the color of lace I wanted, so I dyed this lace using Burnt Orange acid dye. It turned out perfectly!

You see, that’s a full coverage back. What the pattern shows is definitely not quite what you get. Still, these have been a favorite of mine for years now.

My other favorite is a newer pattern – at least in comparison. It’s a few years old now. It’s not quite a hipster either. It’s a labelled a boy brief, but it’s got curves. It’s the Clover by House Morrighan.

This pattern is edging out KS as my favorite. It’s more modern, and I think I’m preferring it over the other style.

Oh, I think these are cute.

You can see these have full coverage too, but they sit a little lower over the leg.

Both of these turned out perfectly, and match so well with my Burnt Orange Josey bra.

  That is some perfectly matching matchy matchy.

Happy creating!

Dyeing Findings

~ Michelle ~ 4 Comments

I ventured into dyeing some findings again. The first time, and the last time I did this was for my January challenge entry. I needed lavender, and only had purple dye on hand. A few seconds in the bath, and my elastics were already a little darker than I wanted. But they all still worked, probably because the lace had lighter and darker elements and brought it all together.

You can see in the above photo how the elastics are just a bit darker than the power net.

I decided it was time to dip some findings into a dye bath again. This time, it’s not for a challenge entry though. This time it’s to match some of the gorgeous lace my husband brought me from Amsterdam last year.This is a lovely coral and silver lace, with coral sheer cup lining, coral stretch mesh, and some coral findings. As well, it has small silver strap elastic, and silver upper cup elastic.

Here are my newly dyed findings. I’m so pleased with how well they turned out.Does anyone else feel a little geeky about how excited they get over lace, or findings? I hope I’m not alone, because I really did get excited about these.

I did think about using BMS’s platinum findings to match this – because I prefer the larger findings and elastics. But…I also prefer softer elastics. The BMS platinum elastics are the firm ones. So instead I bought some soft white elastics, and white findings, and dyed them. (I have heard a rumor that the BMS elastics are being changed to something right in the middle of soft and firm. I hope that rumor is true!)

Here’s another white kit ready for my next dyeing experiment, along with my new silver grey findings. Didn’t they take color beautifully? I really am seeing why so many others have started to dye their findings or lace to make the exact colors they want.

Everything took color so well too, except for one little thing.Look at that glaringly white bow. It didn’t take any color at all. It must not be polyester like the other findings. It’s a good thing the kit from Kantje Boord came with three little silver grey bows.

Here’s my lace with my newly dyed findings.Perfection!

I have to say, this dyeing experience was even more fun that the last one. The last one I didn’t have the exact color of dye I wanted, so it didn’t turn out exactly as I wanted. This time, I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Happy creating!