Cirque Dress Disaster! When Bad things Happen to Good Clothing

My super wonderful hubby tossed a few items into the washer. It was not enough to run a load so he didn't start it. I saw the items in there and tossed my laundry on top including my yellow Vogue 9112 Cirque Dress. Little did I know, he forgot to check his pockets and there was a pen in the pocket of his shirt!

When the washing was done, I discovered several garments including my dress spotted with ink. I loaded the unsoiled items into the dryer repeating the reminder, "I love my husband, I love my husband, I love my husband."

Ink Stained Cirque Dress

I looked at the stain and was sick to my stomach! I loved my dress and hated the thought of it being ruined.

Luckily, I had recently tie-dyed some t-shirts for my kiddos and still had the leftover dye bath. The dye was Rit Brand Turquoise color prepared per the stovetop package instructions. Thinking quickly, I reheated the dye and submerged the damp dress in the pot hoping to camouflage the stain. The resultant color was a unappetizing pea green with the ink still somewhat visible. The dyeing was not ideal, but it gave me hope that it was redeemable.

  

I ran to the store and bought another bottle of dye, this time in Denim. I added it to the lighter color dye bath, agitated it for 30 minutes and left it to sit in the pot completely submerged for an hour or so. I ran some errands and took it out when I returned home. 

When all was said and done, I was saying, I love my husband! I love my husband! I love my husband! The result of this pen oversight was a happy accident! Here is my new "denim" Cirque dress with no visible signs of the ink stains!

Worn here blueberry picking 4th of July Weekend!

I love the color accuracy of this dye! It looks like denim fabric without the weight of denim. 

The linen is airy and cool and best of all, I saved a dress I love!

The weight of my new Havana Twist braids forces the collar down, but I don't mind :).  I can pop it up again for more drama! I am so happy I was able salvage this dress! Have you had a sewing accident that you thought ended your project? Were you able to breathe new life into it? Please share!

I will be taking a sewing break for a bit. I hope to return soon with some hand-sewing projects and stencil designs. Until then,   

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

Sunshine, Lollipops, Rainbows and Vogue 9112

Some clothes are fun and just make me happy. This week, for me it is Vogue 9112. This dress is a whole heap of interesting. It is strange and easy going while looking complicated.

Vogue 9112

                    
This was so fun to make. I didn't know how this would turn out or how it would look on me. I was delightfully anxious as I was putting it together. 

Vogue 9112

I love the interesting seam lines, the asymmetrical cuts and the curve of the hem.

Detail of the seams

Based on the bust measurement, I made the size small using a bright yellow linen from my stash. I made a mistake (I was distracted while watching Nurse Jackie) and cut the top of the shoulder seam to the XS. It however, made a marginal difference to the end result. The instructions are great on this simple dress. It is super important to transfer all of your markings carefully to be certain all the seams match up.  Because of my choice of fabric, I had to take care in making sure I maintained the right and wrong side of the fabric. The difference is subtle, but I didn't want any of the many segments off.

  

I altered the collar slightly because of the cutting error I mentioned. The pattern suggests basting the center front together and sewing the circle of fabric to the neckline.  I instead, pinned it to the neckline in a straight line letting it overlap where it would naturally. After sewing, I hand tacked the point of the collar in place rather than letting it fall. I also chose to omit the neckline facing. All of the interior seams are edge finished on the serger and I didn't think I needed the facing.

Love this collar!

Yes, yellow works. 

I really like this dress. It is fast to sew, has tons of character and is interesting. I will be making more.  I went shoe shopping and was stopped by a sales clerk. When I told her I made it, she instructed me to go home immediately and make a rainbow wardrobe of these for myself and one more for her!

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

*****Hairstyling Courtesy of So Sharp Salon Boutique*****