Thursday, 26 June 2025

I'll Dye For You


From the sublime to the slime
Here's an exceedingly long and beautiful prom dress spread out on my bed. The owner is about my height. I have just shortened the frock by about 9". I will be vacuuming tiny blue sparkly sequins from the carpet for months. Really tiny, here are two beside a 20p piece.

She's my GSCE student, and it is her 16th birthday this week. It has been fun working with her, I hope she enjoys her prom. Meanwhile her younger brother is in the school play. He came home with a list of requirements for his costume - which included "Two tan shirts, one must be covered in slime"
Mum asked if I had any ideas - the price of tan shirts is too much - so I suggested getting a twinpack of white school shirts and dyeing them. Where do I get the dye? she asked. I said it could be done with a pot of coffee. "I'll dye for you!" I said. Here's A Quick Tutorial

Take the new shirts and wash them [to remove any 'dressing' in the fabric] Whilst still wet immerse them in a large pan containing 1 strong pot of coffee, one pot of stewed tea [2 tea bags] a tbsp salt and a tbsp vinegar. Bring to boil, simmer 20 minutes stirring constantly. Allow to cool, then transfer to smaller pan or bowl, and pour liquid over shirts. Put a plate or pan lid on top, weigh it down [eg 2 cans tomatoes!] to keep shirts submerged. Leave to soak overnight. Remove, rinse and spin [you can do that in your machine] Hang to dry.

One can go back in the packet, prepare the 'slime' for the other. Find some plastic bags, preferably grey, green, black. 

I used a heavyish grey refuse sack, and some 'parcel' bags [M&S dark green] and lighter green compost caddy sacks. And a blue latex glove. Cut out a 'waistcoat' from strongest bag, and lots of 'slimy dribbles' from the other bags.
Stick the dribbles down with appropriate adhesive - along the top edges so the garment does not become too stiff.
Wrap this round the shirt and stitch down the front and round the neckline. If necessary, cut the armhole slot a little bigger to allow for movement!









20 comments:

  1. I hope we can see both costumes being worn. The shirt project sounds fascinating.

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    1. Sorry, neither of these two young people will be appearing here.

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  2. Oh my goodness. Two very different projects. Well done for tackling the sequin dress. Yes, you will be finding sequins for ages😁. The shirt project is so clever. I hope the young man enjoys his part in the play. X

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    1. I hope he doesn't get too anxious, he's got a lot of lines

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  3. Very clever and innovative, esp the plastic bags. The only thing that would make it better is if the shirts could come from a charity shop. There's a great designer called Amy Laws who now exclusively buys charity shop shirts and bed linens that might not get sold (e. G stains or holes) and appliques new colourful colours and designs to upcycle them. They are brilliant! I'm intrigued what the play is and what part he's playing to require this for a costume

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    1. "The wrong way round" by Musicline Productions. This is a new one for me, perhaps you know it, Kezzie

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  4. Now it's time for you to get a dressmakers form to model all these amazing creations you keep producing. I guess Bob is too big to model the slime shirt or the prom dress for us to see.....

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    1. I have no idea where I'd put a dressmakers form!

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  5. Well done on both jobs. The dress in particular!

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  6. Blue sequins to slime, you can't say you don't experience variety in your everyday life. How did you know what to do to recreate slime? That student's mum must be eternally grateful. Regards Sue H

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    1. I knew it couldn't be real slime , too slippery if it fell onto the stage. But I wanted something shiny, with movement. I looked online, and one school had used a green bin bag to make a poncho. I decided that I could do better with layrrs of multiple plastic dribbles/trickles

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  7. Very creative, Angela! I never would have thought of the bags for the slime. Good job!

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    1. See my answer to SencoSue above, not entirely my own idea!

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  8. There could hardly be more contrast in the two clothing projects could there? Lovely job in both instances. The blue dress is SO glam. JanF

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