How to Dye a Corpse Bride Dress
Dress fashionably dead as you recreate the look of the corpse bride. Tim Burton hit the nail on the head when he designed the dress in "The Corpse Bride" movie by dyeing the dress a shade of grey. Whether you are using a fancy ball gown or dyeing an old wedding dress, remove the color of the dress first. This process, along with the primary dye and accenting, takes some concentration but is easily done in less than a day. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 2 tubs
- Water
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Fabric dye
- Stove pot
- Wooden spoon
- Fabric paint
- Paper towel or cloth
Instructions
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Remove the Color
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1
Fill a tub with equal parts bleach and water. Submerge the dress in the mixture and leave for one hour. The bleach will remove any color in the dress and prepare it for a new color.
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2
Blend another mixture of three parts water to one part vinegar. Remove the dress from the water and bleach mixture and ring it out. Transfer the dress directly into the water and vinegar. The vinegar will stop the bleaching process to allow for new dye absorption. Leave the dress immersed in the water and vinegar for 30 minutes.
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3
Remove the dress and ring it out. Transfer the dress to a washing machine and wash the dress, with no detergent, in cold water. When the dress is completely clean, it is ready to dye.
Dye the Dress
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4
Mix together a light grey fabric dye with water in a large stove pot. Set the heat temperature to simmer.
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5
Transfer the dress from the washing machine to the pot of fabric dye. Stir the dress in the dye mixture with a wooden spoon for the first 15 minutes. This will help distribute the dye evenly throughout the dress.
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6
Wait for the water temperature to reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit and then set the simmer time according to the manufacturer's directions. Once the water temperature reaches the designated heat temperature, the fiber cuticles open and allow the color to absorb.
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7
Remove the dress from the pot and put it in the bathtub. Rinse the dress in cold water until the water runs clear. If the dress is too light, dry the fabric and repeat the dyeing process. If the dress is too dark, rinse the dress in hot water to fade the color.
Apply the Accent Color
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8
Apply grey or black fabric paint to the edges of the dress to make it look spooky. Fabric paint will work better than fabric dye because you can place the paint where you want instead of dyeing an entire section of the dress. Only apply the paint to dry fabric.
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9
Squeeze fabric paint onto a paper plate. Wad up a paper towel or cloth to dip into the paint.
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10
Brush the edges of the dress, and any other areas, with the fabric paint. Using a paper towel or cloth will give the dress a more faded look rather than a newly dyed or painted look.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Give the dress a more "dead" look by distressing the fabric.
Dye accessories to wear with the dress, such as a veil and gloves.
Wear gloves and old clothes when dyeing fabric to prevent staining.
Keep bleach and dye away from pets and children.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Kim Steele/Photodisc/Getty Images
