Fabric Dilemma/Offer

[nuranar]

I fell in love with a fabric from Carolina Calicoes, and tempted by the relatively cheap price, I finally got a bunch of it. I'm trying to continue my forays into the 18th century. So mostly I'm treating this dress as a pretty one that lets me get more experience in 18th-century styles while not having (self-imposed) expectations of super-accuracy for every single feature.

This is the fabric:


I called it rose pink. What does it look like to you?

It just arrived today, and it's definitely peach. A light-colored not-orange peach, but I sure wouldn't call it salmon.  And while I can get away with most colors, peach does very little for me. Particularly when compared to what rose pink does do.

Other than that, it feels like a nice-quality home dec print, so a bit heavier than I expected, but it would have a nice drape for the overskirt I was planning to do. It's not polished, either, but it does have a sheen. I was planning to wash it to see if it will soften a bit, and also to get out the slight cigarette smell. :( (I understand the owner has had it in stock for quite a while.)

So. I'm feeling a bit meh about this. It was to be worn at Costume College on Saturday, and also for the Georgian Picnic in November. But while I don't hate it, it's definitely not what I had in mind!

Any ideas? Or is anyone interested? I know there are a lot of people on my f-list who make peach look smashing, so I thought I'd ask. It was originally $6/yard, but I'm interested in offers. I don't need the money so much, but it makes me sad to see it. :(

ETA: I can definitely add pictures of it, too! Close up, and draped, etc. And this is the dress that gave me the inspiration. Nothing ground-breaking, but I'm still taken by it. :)

Comments

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

Can you over dye it? You'll loose your white flower bits but a bit red dye might push it in the rose range you were wanting...

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Maybe... I've just done VERY little dyeing, and this is a whole lot of fabric. To put it another way - I'm scared to try!

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

Which is why I always start with a sample test. Then I know exactly how much dye, how much time to leave it in etc. I'm not very trusting with dye. :>

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Huh. That's a great idea. I need to troll your journal for ideas on procedures, and silly things like figuring out how much water goes in the washing machine. :p

BTW, writing this and seeing y'all's ideas gave me a new one, which I just posted. If you think it's a go, do you think it's worth trying to dye this one later? I mean, since I'm no longer in love with it, should its weight (and maybe design - I'm not a chintz expert) deter me from forcing it to be a dress?

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there is a lot of dyeing info tucked away in the dress diaries. Mostly though I do follow the instructions on the box. I always use more salt though, sometimes almost twice as much. It can help the color set better and be brighter. And wash your fabric before you start, I forgot that step last time and it wasn't good.

I've only used the washer twice I think. We have a front loading washer now and I can't find dyes for that kind of washer (they exist in Europe but in the US not so much). I was very bummed about it when the new washer arrived because the washer dyeing was super easy. Now I use our tub sink in the laundry room or a large plastic bin. Just bought a huge pot for stove-top dyeing but haven't tried it yet.

Well if you are asking my opinion... I think the fabric definitely qualifies for the costume you described... a "pretty one that lets me get more experience in 18th-century styles while not having expectations of super-accuracy". Both the print and weight are close to being correct but not quite there to be honest.

But really the issue is what do you want to do? If this fabric doesn't make you happy anymore and the wool does - go for the wool. This is supposed to be a fun hobby! I think over dyeing this a good option if you end up getting stuck with it and want another go at 18th century. Waste not want not! But don't bother if your heart isn't in it.

Practicality isn't everything afterall. Life is too short for sewing things one's heart isn't in. :>

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Your honest opinion means so much. And it really validates the way I was already leaning. I didn't think the print was quite right, either, but I was willing to overlook it. Now... yes, the wool idea is making me happy. :) I do want this to be fun! And the new option will let me spend my extra-limited time (due to the work situation) in modifying the sleeves and/or bodice, instead of worrying about pattern layout and matching. And I love working with wool anyway. :)

(((HUGS))) Thank you so much, dear!

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm very sorry! Internet buying is rife with this sort of disappointment with color monitors and fit involved. I do hope the fabric finds a home more suited to it and you are therefore rendered less disappointed and in possession of an alternate which delights you.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really should have thought of that! I'm not a novice, but I just fell in love with how it looked. (It's on all three monitors I use, too, so it can't *just* be me!) I've got another idea now, too.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure it wasn't just you, I just mistrust the internet and all its wares to a fair degree. I do hope the idea turns out well! Report back!

[mumstheword54.livejournal.com]

It's a very nice print, but definitely peach.

I wonder, could you use a fabric in one of the other colors -- teal, or truly rose pink, brown, or even white -- for the cross-over-drapey-bodice thingy in the photo? (A little technical terminology there.) That would get the peach away from your face, but would there still be too much peach in the overall picture? Hmm, not sure how that would work.

I hope you find a happy solution and have fun at your gathering!

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's a thought! The drapey thing is actually a kerchief that is almost always white in dressier settings/outfits, which this cotton print definitely should be. It can be worn in a variety of ways, too, so there will be white by my face in any case. That's a good thing. I just still lose the pink!dress thing, which I really wanted!

I just had another idea, though - see my latest.

[jenthompson.livejournal.com]

What a bummer! It is so hard to work with pink/peach/tan colors when they don't look right with your complexion. I've bought several fabrics in this color range that I love on the screen but look totally "meh" on me. But sometimes it is better when there is a break of white next to your skin, so maybe it would be better with a big kerchief?

Sorry for the disappointment though.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Wow, really? I thought that anything like that would look good on you. Although come to think of it, neither super pale pinks or hot pinks/fuchsias look all that good on me, either. It's the warm/midtones that work best, at least in pink. A big kerchief would definitely keep it wearable. It's just that in this case, the outfit WAS the fabric. Now that I'm not really liking the fabric, it takes the excitement out.

I did just get another idea, though. See my latest?

[suededsilk.livejournal.com]

On my monitor, it looks like a pinky-peach, kind of a pale salmon.

Third the suggestion that using a flattering color for the crossover-thingy might be just the ticket. OTOH, sometimes that works better in theory than in practice. I'm sorry it wasn't what you wanted! Online fabric shopping can be such a gamble.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting. I just checked and it's now looking a little less rose-like than I thought, but still nothing like what it really is. Definitely seeing it through rose-colored glasses! :p

The flattering color for a kerchief is definitely white. White makes me *glow*, in a good way. It's just that the fabric itself made me excited about the outfit. But I went stash shopping instead and I have another idea. Please see my follow-up!

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

It's very pretty -- pity about the color. It sure looks pink from here. But the line between peach and pink can be a very thin one sometimes!

I've had things like that happen when ordering beads online before -- wrong size, or the color looks different, or whatever. It can be a real hassle.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

It sure can! It can be pretty vexing, too, when it makes such a difference to my coloring. Crazy, really, with how much my coloring *does* let me get away with...

I never thought about ordering beads. Wow, that must be a real hassle at times.