So a few months ago I decided to go on a no spend spree. Have you ever challenged yourself not to spend money for a period of time? I mean when you actually have money to spend and decide not to spend it (un-American, I know). I decided to hold off on all non-essential spending for a month. When you put yourself in a disciplined exercise like this, your mind will come up with all kinds of "interesting" and "creative" ways to entertain and take care of your home.
During this time, I took a good long look at my favorite jeans. I've had these jeans for a few years, 3 or 4 years in fact, and I could really use a new pair (or two). I'm short, so a good pair of jeans that fit my challenged height are difficult for me to find, even more difficult is finding a pair that fits the rest of me (ahem). After many years, these jeans were beyond faded. But not any more!
Here they are after a good dye job that cost less than $2. Not bad. Not bad at all!
But here's what they used to look like. You can see just how much I love to wear my jeans by how faded they are.
On most days, you can find me in one of these pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and my hair pulled in a ponytail. I rarely put on make up on these days, but I do manage to get my teeth brushed. I home school, clean, organize, and blog a bit on most days- it's the fabulous life, I know!
I "heard" dying jeans would bring them back to life. I had my doubts, but I was willing to take the plunge and sacrifice the denim duo. All the while I was thinking, PLEASE WORK, PLEASE WORK!
I picked up a box of Rit dye, followed the directions which include boiling the dye and pouring the liquid in the washing machine with your piece of clothing. The directions tell you to dye one article at a time for a certain period. I added both pair of jeans and doubled the time. That makes sense, right?
It worked! The jeans darkened and the yellow threading remained intact. I like the results as a quick fix, but the color isn't quite "blue jean" blue. If I had to do it again though, I would in a heart beat.
And after a few months, the color does fade a bit, but not nearly as much as before.
So if you need to save a bit but need some new jeans, the dye job is a great way to go. Hope you found some help here today. Have a great day everyone!
During this time, I took a good long look at my favorite jeans. I've had these jeans for a few years, 3 or 4 years in fact, and I could really use a new pair (or two). I'm short, so a good pair of jeans that fit my challenged height are difficult for me to find, even more difficult is finding a pair that fits the rest of me (ahem). After many years, these jeans were beyond faded. But not any more!
Here they are after a good dye job that cost less than $2. Not bad. Not bad at all!
But here's what they used to look like. You can see just how much I love to wear my jeans by how faded they are.
On most days, you can find me in one of these pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and my hair pulled in a ponytail. I rarely put on make up on these days, but I do manage to get my teeth brushed. I home school, clean, organize, and blog a bit on most days- it's the fabulous life, I know!
I "heard" dying jeans would bring them back to life. I had my doubts, but I was willing to take the plunge and sacrifice the denim duo. All the while I was thinking, PLEASE WORK, PLEASE WORK!
I picked up a box of Rit dye, followed the directions which include boiling the dye and pouring the liquid in the washing machine with your piece of clothing. The directions tell you to dye one article at a time for a certain period. I added both pair of jeans and doubled the time. That makes sense, right?
And after a few months, the color does fade a bit, but not nearly as much as before.
So if you need to save a bit but need some new jeans, the dye job is a great way to go. Hope you found some help here today. Have a great day everyone!
Blessings,
Lisa
I link all my projects with some wonderful blogs. To visit them, go to
the {Link Party Love} page found at the top of this page on the {Home}
bar.
Also linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Saved by Love Creations
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm
Restore Interiors
Tip Junkie
Also linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Saved by Love Creations
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm
Restore Interiors
Tip Junkie
This is a great idea! I have a couple some jeans that could use a dye job. Think I will give it try really soon. Blog Hopped over from Thrifty Things.
ReplyDeleteJenny @ http://jennylynndesignz.blogspot.com/
great post! I am going to need to do this soon and have been wondering if it would work.
ReplyDeletewww.domesticblisssquared.com
I was perusing Nifty Thrifty Sunday and saw your post - My grandmother taught me to dye my jeans (and my black dress pants) back when I was a kid. If you have a really big stock pot (a yard sale is a great place to find a cheap one) you can put the dye in there with a handful of salt with water and "cook" them - that works especially well if you are using black dye. Would you believe I have had one pair of jeans for 13 years now and have dyed them about 5 times over the years - still in good Levi condition. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteThey look good dyed. I am also someone who often wears jeans and that is something I am thinking about trying with some of my older pairs.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea!! I am short too and you are right it is soooo hard to find jeans that fit! I am learning how to sew so I can hem! I think your jeans turned out great! I may have to borrow this idea. I'm having a link party on my blog and I'd love for you to join!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.simplydreamandcreate.com/
I think i'll try this also I have been saving money for trips and need/want new $100 jeans but think I 'll go buy some ritz
ReplyDeleteDo they bleed in the wash? I dyed a pair of white jeans purple and they still bleed.
ReplyDeleteHi Condo,
DeleteNo, my jeans don't bleed in the wash but I rinsed them 2 or 3 times after dying them. Also, I wash them with other jeans. I think if you boil the dye with salt the clothes won't bleed as much.
Blessings,
Lisa
have you tried washing them with SHOUT color catchers?? They help catch they dye that runs in the wash water without the dye getting on other clothes in the wash. I use them on every load.
DeleteI like dark jeans so this is a great tip! Thanks for sharing on Busy Monday!
ReplyDeleteGood tip! :) Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI like them dyed! So cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Never heard/thought of this. So clever, and I like your idea of a no-spend month. I try to be frugal, but maybe I should dedicate a month to just being uber-frugal (and entirely un-American).
ReplyDeleteI once redyed a piece of denim clothing my childs favorite color so she would wear it. Now she likes to wear the garmet the new color and not the original denim blue it was before.
ReplyDeletethose are not the same jeans . If you look the pockets are different...
ReplyDeleteI too have done this, many times over the years. I don't like the faded jean color even when it's supposed to be faded. Worked quite well.
ReplyDeleteI've done this a few times-I found a dye color called "denim" (pretty sure it was Rit)
ReplyDeleteYou can set the dye with a vinegar rinse. Ritz has an Indigo color.
ReplyDeleteRitz dye has an indigo dye and you can rinse the jeans in vinegar bath to set the color it will last even longer.
ReplyDeleteWould the dye process work in a front loading washing machine?
ReplyDelete