Just published in Colette Patterns‘ sewing magazine Seamwork: My latest article on using color palettes in real life! It’s called Color in Your Closet: Discover (and Use) the Palette Within.
Features:
- How to coax a palette out of your existing wardrobe;
- Identifying your primary colors;
- Ideas for using your palette to create new outfits;
- Tips for using accent colors in unexpected ways;
- Using your palette when you shop!
Once you’ve created your palette based on the clothes already in your closet, carry it with you when you shop! (Click the photo to go straight to my article. Photo is my own, also used in the published article.)
This post appeared originally at my A Musing blog, here.
Want to see sewing stuff from Colormusing? Check out myBratelier (lingerie sewing, including bras!), and A Musing, covering all things color-palette-related. And don’t miss all my newest projects, including sew-alongs, at the brand-new SewColormusing blog!
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Changing Your Clothes 
March 15, 2022 at 11:43 am
I need help. PLEASE????? I need to know what kind and color of fabric dye to use in order to get a light color navy blue dress to the darker side of navy blue. I order a dress that was supposed to be a dark navy to match my children’s and husband’s Easter outfit and it is a lot lighter. PLEASE PLEASE HELP..
March 16, 2022 at 10:25 am
Hi Brittany. Dark colors can be problematic for dyeing, and a lot depends on the fiber content; some fibers are better at absorbing dark dye colors than others. What is the fiber content of your dress? Polyester, cotton, silk, maybe a blend? It’s really important to determine this first, because the type of dye you choose will depend on exactly what the fiber content is. Let me know, and we’ll go from there.
March 19, 2022 at 8:32 pm
It’s just a cheap dress. 95% polyester 5% spandex.
March 20, 2022 at 9:49 am
In that case, you’ll want to use a dye that’s specifically made for synthetic fibers, like this one: https://www.joann.com/rit-7-fl.-oz-dyemore-synthetic-fiber-dye/zprd_14669410a.html. I’m guessing that the the “Midnight Blue” color would be best, but it depends how dark you want the blue to be; “Sapphire Blue” might also work.
Full disclosure: I’ve never dyed polyester myself, so I can’t really help other than giving you this recommendation; I definitely can’t guarantee results, but it does look like there are pretty good reviews here. (And I’m not affiliated with Joann or with Rit, I’m just trying to give you a head start on finding the right kind of dye.)
Also, what you’re talking about doing is OVER-dyeing, meaning adding color to an existing color (as opposed to dyeing an undyed material). In my experience (with natural fibers, that is), this makes it even trickier to predict the results. My best suggestion would be to practice on a swatch of material that is as similar to your dress material as possible, including in color. Dyeing is at best an experimental thing.
If all else fails, you could try asking a dry cleaner — there are some that will dye things, and they would certainly have the expertise. Best of luck, and let me know what happens!
March 21, 2022 at 4:12 am
Thank you for your help.