So I have a big fat sack of ivory modal knit I'm going to turn into stuff, among them a big draped gradient top. I'm shooting for a black - gray or black - gray - white gradient. Here's what I'm not sure about:
- I know modal is a plant cellulose and can be dyed, but I don't know if the spandex content (about 5% iirc) is going to prevent me from reaching a true black.
- I've never gradient dyed before, and I'm not sure exactly what I'd do. I'm envisioning successive dye baths; first the whole garment in a lighter gray, then successively darker baths with the garment partially suspended out of the bath. But this might be too splotchy and obvious.
- Topstitching... since it's a knit, it has to be overlocked, and I'm not aware of any thread that can take a good dye and survive a trip through a serger. The only other solutions I can think of are using armholes and neckholes relaxed enough to sew on a straight stitch with dyeable cotton thread, or omitting topstitching all together and having raw edges a la Dick tops.
I do have a big ol' sack of white & black cotton jersey if this is impossible, but I'd really like to do this with the modal.
- I know modal is a plant cellulose and can be dyed, but I don't know if the spandex content (about 5% iirc) is going to prevent me from reaching a true black.
- I've never gradient dyed before, and I'm not sure exactly what I'd do. I'm envisioning successive dye baths; first the whole garment in a lighter gray, then successively darker baths with the garment partially suspended out of the bath. But this might be too splotchy and obvious.
- Topstitching... since it's a knit, it has to be overlocked, and I'm not aware of any thread that can take a good dye and survive a trip through a serger. The only other solutions I can think of are using armholes and neckholes relaxed enough to sew on a straight stitch with dyeable cotton thread, or omitting topstitching all together and having raw edges a la Dick tops.
I do have a big ol' sack of white & black cotton jersey if this is impossible, but I'd really like to do this with the modal.
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