Tuesday 1 July 2008

Bra update

Thanks ever so much for all your excellent suggestions on the bra decorating front. Thank you slightly less for the knitted-beard-as-disguise idea. While I appreciate that you were intending to protect my modesty, I can't help thinking that donning instant whiskers (patent pending) may just have the effect of drawing MORE attention to myself. And even worse, I suspect things might get a bit warm and uncomfortable inside the beard after 13 miles.

Anyway, cracking swiftly on... and before I get onto the bra update I'd planned, I must share with you the very exciting news that has just dropped into my inbox: Working Mom Knits is holding a giveaway - in association with my bra-walk! Hurrah!! Do pop over and have a peek... it's over here. Thanks for thinking of me, WMK!

But now, I'm sure you're all desperate to know how the bra's coming along, yes? Well, the answer would be slooooowly, so I don't yet have any finished-article pics. What I do have is a series of snaps documenting phase one of the work-in-progress, which I shall be subtitling:

"VC's rather unsuccessful foray into fabric-dying"

Before we kick off, I'll give you a hint about the moral of the story: it involves remembering to read all the instructions before you begin. And then following them.

My 'before' shot shows that things started off very well. I consulted the guidelines and got out everything I would need:


I'd splashed out on a new pair of marigolds, I'd bulked up my fabric weight by adding a pillowcase and some knickers to my bra, I'd laughed heartily at the man in baby-blue shorts pictured on the box of dye - I was ready.

Next up, I have a 'during' shot:


Here you can see my old yellow pillowcase starting to go green as the blue dye begins to take. You probably can't see the bra. That is because I had hidden it under the pillowcase so that I couldn't see it and get stressed out about how IT WASN'T CHANGING COLOUR!!

At this point, I was repeating a mantra along the lines of: "OK... so... don't panic... just keep 'agitating the fabric and forcing the dye through it', like it says in the instructions... it'll be fine... *panicky breathing*... why is it STILL NOT BLUE??"

And, well, it turns out that I should have read the fabric type on the bra label before I bought the dye, and taken into consideration that the polyester/nylon/elastene blend might not take the colour all that well. I did know that some fibres wouldn't really dye properly, but I seem to have adopted an attitude of blind optimism about the whole thing, and assumed that this bra would 'blue up' just fine, whatever dye I used.

In the end, it did work a little bit, albeit to varying degrees in different areas. So, here's my 'after' shot: one ever-so-slightly-blue-except-where-it's-still-white bra...


Soon after this shot was taken, I started sewing some bits on - but the fruits of my labours will have to wait until next time, I think. You'll like it, though. Really. The actual sewing may not be very good, but I feel that I had a very strong design vision. I drew sketches and everything. Oh yes - I've learned from my mistakes. No more winging it for this chicken: only proper planning and meticulous research from now on... or something like that, anyway ;o)

20 comments:

Mrs Moog said...

It's amazing how the dye won't take when you want it to but stick your sparkly new white bra in the wash with a pair of jeans (by mistake of course!) and it will suck up colour like a sponge giving you a nice bluish sludgy grey sparkly new bra!!

Not that this has ever happened to me of course....

Your blue looks good and I can't wait to see it all decorated up!

xxx

tintocktap said...

Hmmm, your blue bra still looks far too tasteful. I still think a knitted beard is a must. Or perhaps knitted monkey features, of the Smashie variety of course.

Kitty said...

It's blue! It is - you'd pay a fortune for a bra that delicate shade of powder blue! Can't wait to see what you've done to it since then - some lamé perhaps? Some pompoms, ric-rac, glittery pipe cleaners?

Just off to check out WMK's page and see what she's up to.

x

trash said...

I love the blue! I think the contrasting white looks reeeeeaaaal purtylike. Will you be artfully arranging swinging monkeys around your bra-covered area? I think the Smashie Army needs an outing and a nice stroll across Brizzle may be just the thing. Hmmmmm... perhaps they could have the beards??

Claudia said...

I loved the dye and I think it was beautiful. You thought about some colourful beads to add some shinning to it? Go all Vegas with it! Friends, faith and a lot of courage will follow you, I'm sure. Good SunWalk!
I found you through Working Mom Knits.

Wildfire said...

I stumbled upon Working Mom Knits blog and had to come check out the "bra" action. In perusing your lovely shade of blue I am thinking it needs some Carabou feathers. ALOT of Carabou feathers. And rhinestones to make it really high class, lots of bling! Good luck and I am going to try and figure out if an american can sponser you (I don't really understand the pound conversion thing).

Locket Pocket said...

I think that pale-almost-not-there blue is rather fetching!!!

What is of greater concern is what you are going to wear with it!!!!!

Looking forward to seeing it fully decorated!

Lucy xx

CoffeeInspired said...

Found your site via "Working Mom Knits".

The blue shade turned out quite lovely, even with the spots that didn't turn out blue but stayed white.

I'm leaning towards embroidery, as far as embellishment. Perhaps in a nice striking metallic blue.

Best of luck,take chances :)

Unknown said...

hmmm, that is a bit of a pretty bra. I am with tintocktap - a beard may be the way to go. And nipple tassels, big sparkly bright ones attached to your bra. Now that' be LOVELY

wonderwoman said...

hi, am new to your blog, just wanted to say good luck on your walk - the bra so far looks good - great colour - how about attaching different coloured thin ribbons all along the bottom edge - like a kind of fringe?! just a thought! had a peep at WMKs blog - great giveaway! what a lovely thing to do.

Laurel said...

It's a very pretty blue... I too stumbled upon WMK's and then yours. What a fabulous thing you are doing; and very brave! I'm thinking wings attached to the back would be awesome!

Leah said...

It looks very pretty - I'm sure you'll have ideas to make it BRA-TASTIC!

Monkee Maker said...

Hi VC,

Good luck with the walk this weekend. I've just been across to your sponsorship site and "done the business".

As I said there, 13.1 miles? That'll be a doddle after RUNNING all those marathons. But in your undies?? Now that's the challenge!

Hope you have a great time, and I look forward to seeing the finished work of bra-art.

:)

lauren bergold said...

oof! well now i am DYE-ing to see the finished product!!! (ok sorry!)

but first...i have to read backwards and find out what exactly is going on here...why bras are being dyed and knitted beards being considered to be worn (or not) with said dyed bras...and um...just generally what the heck is going on here!

but in the meantime: absolutely NO VC-WAQing shall take place, on my honor!!!!!!!! :)

Michaela said...

Well being as it's blue and white, it looks like the sky, so I'm thinking of birds (lots of feathers) a rainbow made from quality street wrappers coming out of the side, sunshine (yellow face paint?) maybe an aeroplane or two... sorry, getting silly now.

I wish you tons and tons of luck and I can't wait to see the finished article. (I've just done some dying today and the colour runs like mad - it won't bleed blue with all the sweat will it?)

Quinn said...

To me, it looks exactly like a Wedgewood bra!

What I can't help wondering is, what *else* will you be wearing?

:)

Anonymous said...

I came here through Michaela's blog. I wish you a high energy level and good spirit for your Sunday fundraising walk. Your bra is a delicate shade of porcelaine blue. How about naive embroidery in one or more contrasting colours? I am quite sure the final result will be astonishing.

Giulietta (from Elsewhere)

sara said...

I think that you ought to fringe it.
Lovely colour though.

silverpebble said...

That now looks like an Agent Provocateur number - it's lovely! I like katy's idea of nipple tassels. Then it's just a matter of perfecting the technique of swinging them in different directions at once whilst walking at the same time. Now that would be a spectacle.

Dyan said...

How about some felt appliques? Or maybe embroidery. Either way, just wanted to let you know that you're doing a wonderful thing.
Dy