Nightgowns

A fez maybe?? Like this:

Sharon

One of my favorite sources for 'nighty cotton' is the discount/discontinued pile at the bed and bath shops. I look for 100% Egyptian cotton, flat sheets. I've found king sized sheets for under $20 and got 4 nightgowns from one sheet and still had plenty left to 'stash'. I found an especially pretty lilac flowered print in a Queen sized sheet and made a gown and matching robe. Great bang for your buck if you figure what you pay for yardage.

Val

What a terrific hint...thanks!

Doreen in Alabama

I found some in my stash. I often pick up lengths of fabric at yard sales and thrift stores -- if it catches my eye. Especially if it's cotton, rather than polyester. So I have some interesting "vintage" fabrics in my stash.

Would that be pounding the seams? With a clapper?

Cea, I know it's been a tough year, but please don't chew the drapes or the carpet.

While hunting through the stash today, I found a lace nightgown yoke. Tatted lace, I think. Are you interested?

Does anyone have any suggestions about dyeing white curtains to an ecru shade? Yes, I know this is a miniscule change but the "trouble" (my mom's words) these curtains were to her apparantly she doesn't want to part with them, like making new ones in the right color. To give some background, Mom's bedroom was blue carpet and white walls with Country French furniture. She had the walls painted peach and with the dustruffle on the bed it works with the blue carpet. However, now these glaring white sheer curtains don't work *but* I don't want to try to dye them the right shade and get it wrong. Our relationship has not always been the best and I don't want a negative attachment put on a failed attempt to turn the established curtains the right color. Maybe I should just find a local professional to do it?

Opinions? AK in PA

If Pat isn't interested, I certainly would be.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

If they are a natural fiber like cotton a week tea solution may work. Test a corner. IF a synthetic I'd check with Dhama Trading I think the url is

Frankly, given the background info above, this sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. This has a high potential for turning around and biting you in the butt.

I wouldn't touch this project with a ten-foot pole.

Kathleen

Fiber? Natural fibers, cellulosics and nylon dye pretty well... polyester is another story entirely.

I am very interested!.........or were you talking to me? I would love to have it if we could work it out..........

Send address - reply to works. :)

Going to Pat, but if it doesn't suit her, she can pass it along. :)

Tea dyeing might give the right shade of ecru, but I don't know how light-fast the color would be. Then there's the thread - even if the fabric is cotton there's no guarantee that it wasn't sewn with polyester thread.

Kathleen

So the consensus I get from everyone's comments is I should probably not do the dyeing myself. See if there is a pro in the area *and* prepare Mom for some possibly not as would have wished results. Will do, AK in PA

You could try a burn test before holding a random-dyeing event, to short-cut possible messes. Cut a snip of fabric, hold it in tweezers over a dish or the sink, light it with a match. Generally speaking, natural fibers turn to ash. Polyester will bead up, leaving an ugly black bead. Cea