Sponsors
Sponsors
I hung it in the car and it faded (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 5/5/10 8:27 PM ET
So, I have been keeping a suit jacket hanging in the car so that it's on hand if I have to go to an important meeting on short notice. This is my "go to" jacket for serious work outfits for formal meetings. It fits like a dream, is at the same time structured and drapey (flattering), and goes with almost anything.
It's made of a black fine knit and came with a skirt. It's about six years old and purchased for job interviews but not worn a lot previously because of limited need for a full suit. It was about $150 RTW at that time. I don't feel like trashing it, but the upper back, where exposed to the sun from the car window, is faded enough that I notice it, though I don't know that the casual observer would necessarily.
I have only dry cleaned this jacket before, but the fabric and lining are polyester. I have in my imagination that there must be some kind of fine spray dye I can spray all over the jacket that would dry and not come off, but that may be a silly thought.
What would you do if this happened to your favorite jacket?
It's made of a black fine knit and came with a skirt. It's about six years old and purchased for job interviews but not worn a lot previously because of limited need for a full suit. It was about $150 RTW at that time. I don't feel like trashing it, but the upper back, where exposed to the sun from the car window, is faded enough that I notice it, though I don't know that the casual observer would necessarily.
I have only dry cleaned this jacket before, but the fabric and lining are polyester. I have in my imagination that there must be some kind of fine spray dye I can spray all over the jacket that would dry and not come off, but that may be a silly thought.
What would you do if this happened to your favorite jacket?
Posted on: 5/5/10 8:37 PM ET
I had this happen to my favorite black knit top. I got bleach on it in the hip area and those spots turned pinkish. I dyed it with Rit dye in a bowl of hot water. Had to stir it for 30 minutes, but it came out a beautiful black. I think my top was polyester, but not sure. If you go this route, you might want to be sure you use polyester dye -- I think you can find it at some JoAnn's. One of the women in my class uses it all the time to get her zippers to match her fabric.
------
------
Yards sewed 2018--301 yards
Goal for 2020 - 400 yards --- Made it --sewed 400.76 yards. I have no idea about how many yards I have in my inventory.
2021 --200.125 yards
2022-- no specific number---Just redo inventory and sew more than 2021
Machines: Designer Diamond, #1+ (2), H Class 100Q, Viking 400, Baby Lock Creative Pro -- Sergers: Viking 936, Babylock Accolade, Babylock Vibrant, Singer Coverstitch
Goal for 2020 - 400 yards --- Made it --sewed 400.76 yards. I have no idea about how many yards I have in my inventory.
2021 --200.125 yards
2022-- no specific number---Just redo inventory and sew more than 2021
Machines: Designer Diamond, #1+ (2), H Class 100Q, Viking 400, Baby Lock Creative Pro -- Sergers: Viking 936, Babylock Accolade, Babylock Vibrant, Singer Coverstitch
Posted on: 5/5/10 10:08 PM ET
In reply to katlew03
Quote: katlew03
I had this happen to my favorite black knit top. I got bleach on it in the hip area and those spots turned pinkish. I dyed it with Rit dye in a bowl of hot water. Had to stir it for 30 minutes, but it came out a beautiful black. I think my top was polyester, but not sure. If you go this route, you might want to be sure you use polyester dye -- I think you can find it at some JoAnn's. One of the women in my class uses it all the time to get her zippers to match her fabric.
I had this happen to my favorite black knit top. I got bleach on it in the hip area and those spots turned pinkish. I dyed it with Rit dye in a bowl of hot water. Had to stir it for 30 minutes, but it came out a beautiful black. I think my top was polyester, but not sure. If you go this route, you might want to be sure you use polyester dye -- I think you can find it at some JoAnn's. One of the women in my class uses it all the time to get her zippers to match her fabric.
I wondered about that. I wonder what the hot water would do to my tailored (department store RTW not from a custom tailor) suit jacket? That's my only concern. Concerned the interfacing and such will shrink.
Posted on: 5/5/10 10:45 PM ET
In reply to WildWyoming
If you can't wear the jacket anyway, I'd be inclined to try it starting with cool water, if that doesn't take but the jacket doesn't shrink or change shape, then use warm water and continue until you get good results. When I did my top, I was not expecting anything but to have to throw it out and was amazed at the beautiful results. If it works, all you would be out would be the cost of a number of packs of dye. If it doesn't work, you've just spend a few $$ on dye packets. If the jacket is still wearable with the fade marks, then you have different choices.
I tend to try everything to salvage a garment. DH had a work shirt that was new -- white polo shirt with navy ribbed trim -- that developed blue splotches. I ran it through a load of bleached whites and the color was still there so I just tossed it -- sure hated to do so -- but you have to cut your losses. However, most of the time I can save something -- it's just the one that didn't work that bothers me. I hope you will be able to save your jacket. If not, you couldn't wear it anyway.
------
I tend to try everything to salvage a garment. DH had a work shirt that was new -- white polo shirt with navy ribbed trim -- that developed blue splotches. I ran it through a load of bleached whites and the color was still there so I just tossed it -- sure hated to do so -- but you have to cut your losses. However, most of the time I can save something -- it's just the one that didn't work that bothers me. I hope you will be able to save your jacket. If not, you couldn't wear it anyway.
------
Yards sewed 2018--301 yards
Goal for 2020 - 400 yards --- Made it --sewed 400.76 yards. I have no idea about how many yards I have in my inventory.
2021 --200.125 yards
2022-- no specific number---Just redo inventory and sew more than 2021
Machines: Designer Diamond, #1+ (2), H Class 100Q, Viking 400, Baby Lock Creative Pro -- Sergers: Viking 936, Babylock Accolade, Babylock Vibrant, Singer Coverstitch
Goal for 2020 - 400 yards --- Made it --sewed 400.76 yards. I have no idea about how many yards I have in my inventory.
2021 --200.125 yards
2022-- no specific number---Just redo inventory and sew more than 2021
Machines: Designer Diamond, #1+ (2), H Class 100Q, Viking 400, Baby Lock Creative Pro -- Sergers: Viking 936, Babylock Accolade, Babylock Vibrant, Singer Coverstitch
Posted on: 5/6/10 6:02 AM ET
Maybe a bit 'out there' but have you considered doing some sort of layer over the faded fabric? Maybe open the shoulder seams (or not) and attach some lace overlay or other embellishment that would not be too stand-outish that it looks like an add-on. Simple, black, but just a bit of extra texture. That's probably what I'd try.
Posted on: 5/6/10 10:35 AM ET
In reply to WildWyoming
On very small spots I have actually used a sharpie pen to re-colour faded or bleached garments. Of course, it tends to wash out of those spots but never ever washes out if you get it on a light coloured fabric. 
------

------
http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
Posted on: 5/6/10 3:09 PM ET
Maybe you could try spray dyeing it instead of immersing the whole jacket. The previous issue (I think, it was definitely this year) of Threads had an article on dying, including spray dying. They used it to get a certain color variation, but I bet you could do it to darken up the faded area.
You might want to try iDye (you can buy it from Dharma Trading, NAYY) instead of Rit. iDye is a little nicer and stronger, and they make a special version just for poly fabrics.
You might want to try iDye (you can buy it from Dharma Trading, NAYY) instead of Rit. iDye is a little nicer and stronger, and they make a special version just for poly fabrics.
Posted on: 5/7/10 1:32 AM ET
All great ideas. I too had thought of the layering/embellishing idea and wrote it up but then deleted it because I wanted the keep the focus on restoring the jacket for the formal meetings. Still, it would be a fun project and pretty much a sure hit. I was thinking of netting, lace, beading, etc. to layer over the black and I would use all black embellishments to make it easy to put over jeans with many types of tops. I think keeping it all black would tone down the artsy part enough so that I could wear it for work when I'm not going to the formal meetings. Much of my job can be done wearing hip jeans outfits that are a bit dressed up and look like work outfits like you took time in the morning to really pull yourself together (versus throwing on a casual T-shirt and any old jeans).
I'm still intrigued by the possibility of dying the jacket and will ponder the options mentioned. I guess if a spray dye didn't work, I could try any of the other options.
Will ponder and also check back for any additional thoughts. Safest bet sounds like spraying the whole thing black (if it's colorfast more or less) and if that doesn't look right, embellishing heavily with black on black.
Tempted to hand wash it in cold to see if I really have to dry clean it and then go from there. Trying to move away from dry cleanind and only want to have to dry clean formal jackets for formal meetings if I can help it.
I'm still intrigued by the possibility of dying the jacket and will ponder the options mentioned. I guess if a spray dye didn't work, I could try any of the other options.
Will ponder and also check back for any additional thoughts. Safest bet sounds like spraying the whole thing black (if it's colorfast more or less) and if that doesn't look right, embellishing heavily with black on black.
Tempted to hand wash it in cold to see if I really have to dry clean it and then go from there. Trying to move away from dry cleanind and only want to have to dry clean formal jackets for formal meetings if I can help it.
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics







