Making the Slip
Slips are beautiful items, often passed over in the home and at the thrift store. In an age where our ankles are exposed and cleavage is no rare sight, these slips make versatile garments.
Over Christmas, I dyed and redesigned slips bought at half price during a weekday at Salvation Army. (Most of their sales are during the week; you can find amazing deals there on weekdays.) I put a little "elbow-grease" into these slips in order to give extra love to our sisters this Christmas.
The first two slips, I wrapped loosely with lace to give a textural looks. When wrapping or tying, be aware of what areas you want exposed to the dye. If you don't pay attention, all to often the prettiest colors end up on the back.
The blue and green one, Ellen's, I dip dyed in two different colors, letting each color saturate for over an hour. I spray dyed the lace lime and turquoise while wrapped around a broom stick with string. I let the lace dry, heat set it, and washed it. I applied lace to the top and bottom, hand-stitching the lace in the bodice while on a mannequin, to ensure the garment was stretched and would fit my sister. You could pin it while on the mannequin, take it off, and sew it, but I wanted to ensure the lace sat flat on the bodice. I machine stitched the bottom lace.
The black one, Julie's, I wrapped a little tighter with a wider lace and string. I used bottles of Tumble Dye to sprayed it a saturated red and pink. After drying, heat setting those colors, and washing it with the lace, I rubber banded the dry slip like a tie-dye shirt but was very aware of where I wanted the pink and red to shine through. I put the whole garment in a pot of black dye and let soak for over an hour. After heat setting and washing, I pinned the lace while it was on my mannequin. I machine stitched all of this one because black hides stitches better than any other, including the beaded fringe at the bottom.
The final slip, Heather's, was tied around a broom stick with string and the lace on the first slip. It sprayed it with turquoise and lime Tumble Dye. I let this dry, washed it, and then rubber banded it loosely for the double dip dye like the first.
The fringe and accent lace, and appliques, like the flower, was just thrown in with small dye batches I did at the same time. (I dyed socks for everyone this Christmas.) Dying this little lace bits you would normally throw out, bring great life to them, especially when contrasted with a different color.
I owe everything I know about dying to my teachers at the University of Southern Mississippi, Larry Mullican and Rebecca Hickman. I also get great ideas from the magazine Altered Couture. Check them out at: Stampington.com.
These slips work great as a simple sundress when the Texas heat has you free of care. They also are great layering tools in the winter. Put a v-neck sweater over it and some stockings under it to
keep warm and use it as skirt-camisole combo. Add slits in the sides for more leg movement to use these as dance or theater costumes.
Transform those old passed over slips into a evening gown glory!
posted by moeticgette @ 4:31 PM
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