Timeless Trends Dyeable Corsets!

Hi there Reader

Timeless Trends Corsets (link below) came out with these really great white cotton dyeable corsets. As a cosplayer and crafter I HAD to give these things a try! So, here is a quick tutorial with instructions and tips for dyeing and styling your own corset!

These are great corsets for DIY steampunk corsets and matching bridesmaids dresses!

Of all of the corsets I have owned these are also the best quality for the best money!

Link: http://timeless-trends.com/dyeable-corset

Step 1: What You Will Need...

You will need:

1: Timeless Trends dyeable corset

2: Large plastic of metal container for dyeing (stainless steal sinks work well)

3: Towels (1-3 for clean up)

4: Measuring cup

5: Table Spoon

6: Salt

7: Dye (for natural fabrics...cotton, silk and wool)

8: Gloves.....unless you want purple fingers

9: Decorations (stenciles, paints, crystals, flowers.... anything your heart desires)

10: Netflix...or cable...something to entertain you while you work ;)

Tips!:
Rit, Dylon and iDye are the most common dyes you will find in your craft stores. I have used them all, but I really like Dylon for its color intensity.

DO NOT do this on carpet or use your best towels..... I recommend kitchen or bathroom floors

I DO NOT recommend the washing machine dyeing process that Rit and Dylon provide.... it doesn't give you much control over the intensity of the color.

Having a couple of other plastic tubs around helps to set a corset aside while changing dyes...towels work too.

Step 2: Prepping Your Corset

Fill your large container with warm-hot water... (~10quarts.... or two full pasta-pots of water)

Unwrap your corset and remove the laces*

Soak both halves of your corset in the clean hot water. Remove corset and set aside...don't dry.

Tips: *The laces are a cotton-polyester blend, and do not hold the dye well....I recommend re-lacing with silk ribbons which are prettier and plentiful at your local craft store :)

No need to wash your corset before dyeing.

Step 3: Choosing Your Dyes

Now you have to pick your dyes.

You can mix dyes (mix the wonders or liquids together) to get the desired color.....or you can layer the dye (dye the corset one color, then dye it another color afterwards.

I am going to do a vintage violate ombre.... an olive green damask....and a tie-dye leopard print corset.

To make a color look "vintage", you can use iDye "Ecru" or "Brown" to town down the intensity of a color.

Step 4: Mixing Your Dyes

You can follow the "basin" or "sink" dyeing protocols on the Dye package.

Here I will detail the Dylon procedures:

1: Measure out 4 cups of hot water

2: Add your Dye package

3: Add 4 TBSP of salt

4: Mix well

5: Add this mixture to your tub of water....

Tip: If you want very dark colors use two dye packs in 4 cups of water.

Step 5: Dyeing the Corset

Put on you gloves and add the corset to the dye.

Fully submerge the corset and swish it around in the dye.

After 5 min in the dye, you will see a light color.

After 10 min it will darken...leave in for 45min to 1 hour for full color

Tip: The corset will dry 2 shades lighter than the final damp color. So dye the corset darker than you want the final color to be.

Use a white cotton t-shirt to test the end color. Allow the corset to dry to make sure you like the color before you throw out your dye.

WARNING!!! Avoid contact with the dye....it is an eye and skin irritant and can cause allergic reactions (itching and rash) in sensitive people.

Step 6: Ombre Dyeing

To get a vintage ombre color. I first dyed the corset in iDye "Ecru", then dyed the corset in Dylon "Intense Violet".

To make the ombre look, I keep the lower half of the corset in the dye longer. This makes the ombre coloring

You really need to keep track of the color progression, and keep hands on the corset to make sure it doesn't completely submerge.

Remember the corset will dye lighter, so dye darker than the final color you want.

Once finished dyeing. Rinse the corset in the shower to remove excess dye, and allow to dry overnight.

Tip: The "Ecru" color will "antique" the violet dye as you can see in the picture of the corset compared to the cotton skirt with only the violet dye.

Step 7: Two-tone Dyeing

Just like with the ombre dyeing, you start the two tone corset bye dyeing just the lower half of the corset.

You don't need to wait for the corset to dry, you can simply add it to the new dye

Tip: Remember the corset will dry lighter!

Step 8: Finishing

Once you have the color you want, rinse the corset in clean water until there is no more dye comes off. Then add a little detergent to the clear water and rinse again..... Then dump out the soapy water and rinse again with clean water.

You can dry your corset with a hair dryer, drip dry or drying machine (preferable)

Tip: Put the towel in the dryer with just the corset, to soak up the water faster.
Allowing the corset to drip dry can risk the grommets rusting

Step 9: Stencils and Decorations

Another great feature of these corsets is that you can stencil and decorate them!

I bought these little stencils at the local craft store and used craft paints

Tape the stencil in place.

Use a craft sponge or sponge brush to dab on the paints. Do multiple layers for bolder contrasts.

Tip: Wash off your stencil between uses to avoid smudging!

Crystals: You can add jewels to your corset using heat transfers or hot glue

Tip: After you have decorated, it is best to dry-clean the corset to avoid damaging the designs to affecting the color...(these are natural dyes, so they will fade, like a pair of jeans, if you regularly wash your corset in a washing machine....so don't :P )

Step 10: Re-dyeing

After drying, if your corset comes out lighter than you wanted or you decide to change the color you can re-dye your corset. Just save the dye or make new dye and keep going until you get what you want!!!!

Step 11: Enjoy!

You should be good to go!

Hope this helped....just a few tips from my experience!

Have fun!!!