People, I have been dying things since my first gray hair at 25.� I have never once failed at dying something the color of my choosing, not counting some ill advised blonde highlights in the 90s.� I even successfully dyed an aqua Ektorpt arm chair a deep navy with nary a blotch or fade throughout the many yards of fabric.
But this?� This is just WRONG.� The black didn’t take.� Twice!� And I followed the instructions to the letter because I am the sort of person who treats instructions as is they are something Moses carried down from the mountain.� Instead, the ottomans look as if I tied them to my bumper and drove the freeways for three months.� Yes, they look like those sad stuffed animals attached to the back of a motorcycle: forlorn, dirty, and just a touch creepy.
Looks like I am going to learn to sew, and quickly.� I’m almost afraid to paint my door, for fear the paint should turn purple before my eyes.
Oh dear. So much for my good advice. Eep! I’d say pick up some fabric at Ikea and ask someone to sew them up for you. Bribe them with a bottle of wine (but they have to drink it AFTER sewing, as I’m sure you don’t want to drive anyone to the ER with a sewing machine attached to their arm).
Nina,
I thought dying them would be a no brainer! I’ve done it a million times before with upholstery and clothing. I don’t know what I did wrong. :)
Whoohoo! . . . well not for your failure, but that I get to teach you to sew new ones! :) I’m ready when you are!
I’m counting on it, Larissa! We’ll chat Wednesday, eh?
Um yeah, guess that wasn’t such a good idea. Oops. At least you have options, right?
At least you were brave enough to try. I’ve never dyed anything but Easter eggs! One more thing to add to my list of things to try.
carrot!
Good eye, Jessica!
What kind of fabric were they made of? What kind of dye did you use?
I used black RIT and the fabric is plain ol’ cotton. :)
I don’t know, from here they don’t look THAT bad. I realize it isn’t what you wanted, and perhaps doesn’t fit your decor — but I think they are interesting! Guess that shows how much I know, eh?
Laura, I think what we are dealing with here is “Good from afar, but far from good.” You know how during the 18th century you hear of men taking off their cloaks and putting it across a puddle so the women could walk across without wetting their feet?
The covers look like the cloak after it’s been walked on in a muddy puddle.
Haha, I like that saying, “Good from afar, but far from good.” :)
Oh, I completely looked over the part where you mentioned you dyed an ektorp chair cover.. I have the big-daddy chair and ottoman, in white, and I absolutely hate it. Do you have a process you could divulge? If you don’t want to write it on the blog, feel free to email me. :)
Jules, these ottomans are very easy to recover, make the kind that are slip covers so this way they can be taken off and washed, just a thought. Have fun picking fabrics :)
It’s not wrong, per say … rather, a sign. You were meant to have new covers. Obviously.
I recently used Rit dye on cotton (it started out white) and it ended up purple for me, too. Boo.
we use black dye at work all the time to dye clothing samples, etc. we try black a lot. most black dyes, RIT included, do not dye black, but instead a dark icky purple. Try Tintex for more of a true black, or a dark gray at best.
What I am the most happy about is the reappearing carrot. Can’t wait to find it next time.
Yep! I hope to see you tomorrow morning! :)
Weird–I didn’t get notified of most of these comments. Sorry for the late response!
Laura–I had the light blue/aqua chair and dyed it navy/indigo with RIT in the washing machine. I followed the instructions to the letter, and I believe I need three or four bottles. It came out PERFECT! I have to redye it now, as it’s been a few years and it’s starting to fade from all the washings.
Hayley/Steph that is exactly the problem I had. It’s like there is a muddy, purple film on the ottoman covers. Gross.
Keep looking for the carrot, Rachel! ;)
I have never dyed stuff. I liked the suggestion to pick out a fabric at ikea (or anywhere really) and have someone cover them for you or take it on as a DIY after you’ve practiced your sewing! You had me laughing out loud when you wrote about how you have been dyring stuff since your first gray hair. You are so funny!
Hah, I love that you included the carrot, your make me laugh way too much…
Have you ever used or considered trying to use this: http://www.simplyspray.com/ ??
I’ve only worked with RIT to date, but have been wanting to give this stuff a shot for awhile now (just nothing impending to use it on at present).
Mary–no, I’ve never even seen that stuff before! I wonder how it feels?