All posts tagged: 1890

Trials and tribulations of dyeing

Having decided that the Juno dress really needs to be closer to the original, and that the only draping option I have that will really give the same effect is some silk tulle and mesh, currently coloured gold, chocolate brown, and black (which I dyed over the gold), my only option was to un-dye and than re-dye the tulle to match the duchesse silk of the dress. So this is what I started with: This is what I got after 60 seconds in the un-dye pot: Well, sweet tiny Jamie, that wasn’t what I expected!  Now I have a problem! Luckily, after a LOT more soaking and stirring, and a whole new packet of un-dyer, I achieved much more satisfactory results: Even the chocolate silk mesh un-coloured with a lot of encouragement: Having finally achieved colours neutral enough to attempt re-dyeing, I tackled that.  I picked a navy blue silk dye. Unfortunately, on my first go I forgot to add vinegar to help it set, so the colouring was a little insipid. A dry, a …