DIY INSPIRATION - DIP DYED KNIT

Even though many of us are looking towards spring and summer, in reality most of us are still wrapping up in order to leave the house (except southern hemisphere readers - but your turn will come!). And by now your knits are probably looking a bit tired after constant wear - so how about breathing a bit of life into them with some dip dying? I love this look.

Copy the one below by dip dying a coloured knit, but dipping upside down so the gradation of colour comes from the top. You could also do reverse dying - by taking a dark blue knit and bleaching the colour out of the bottom - although it's  more difficult to know what you'll get what you do this. One last tip - always use natural fabrics like cotton, denim or wool, as polyester doesn't take one dye very well. Yup, been there, done that.

Image: h&m knit (I think) via Studded Hearts

DIY INSPIRATION - THE REVERSE DIP DYE

Whilst on the subject of dip dying - why not dip your item of clothing upside down to create a reverse dip dye effect - a la Phillip Lim?

Image: park and cube

DIY ELLERY INSPIRED DIP DYE SKIRT

Ummm how good is this Ellery inspired dip dyed skirt that one of my readers Jasmine posted on instagram not long ago? She used my dip dye tutorial but instead of using watered down dye to get an ombre look she used a stronger dye to get a more noticeable line - but still did the graduated colour by dipping. I thought about doing this as soon as I saw Jess wearing 'the ventures' dress a while ago - and was so glad that someone out there has done it!

I have to say that one of my favourite things about instagram is the number of people that do DIYs and post pics - some even send me a little mention which totally makes my day. DIYagram is what it should really be called.

Images via: Tuula and from a reader.

DIY BEC & BRIDGE INSPIRED OMBRE TEE

I recently got carried away ombre dying practically everything in my wardrobe. In addition to the ombre mini I did for Harper's BAZAAR last week, this tee (on the left) is one of my other projects, inspired by none other than the stunning High Summer Bec & Bridge collection. 

I'm not going to lie, the process I used was identical to that of the ombre mini I made and posted about over at Harper's BAZAAR, but I really wanted to show you this little piece. For those of you who didn't catch my tutorial, check out my instructions below.

You Need:
- A white tee (mine is from H&M)
- Purple dye
- Salt
- Bucket
- Water

How to:

1. Dampen your fabric - you want it to be wet but not dripping. This helps it take on the dye evenly.
2. Open your packet of dye and separate it evenly into a few different containers. 

3. To start, only put one of the measures of dye into the water, mixing according to the instructions on the packet. This will be the least concentrated in which to do the first immersion. Most dyes recommend using warm water and salt to set the dye.

4. Put your tee on a hanger so it hangs evenly and dip it into the dye. The first time you dip it will be the deepest, and you should aim to stop about 15cm from the neckline.

5. Take the tee out and add another container of dye to the bucket and mix up. Dip the tee again, this time only about 2 thirds of the depth of the first time.

6. Add the final container of dye. Dip only the bottom few inches of the tee into the dye at its most concentrated. You can even let it sit in the dye for a little while to take on more colour.

7. Once you think the bottom of the tee is dark enough, wash it out in a sink.

8. Leave the tee to dry. Done!

On a side note, can we talk for a second about that lilac akubra? Nothing has ever been so firmly on my Christmas wishlist before. Perhaps a present to myself when I get back to Australia this weekend...

DIY DIP DYE [OMBRE] MINI SKIRT

I'm on a dip dying frenzy at the moment and nothing is safe. For me, the trick is to create the perfect gradation between the original colour and the dyed colour. The kids are calling it ombre (say it with me: ohm-bray). Want to know how you can do it yourself?

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S HARPER'S BAZAAR TUTORIAL - THE OMBRE MINI

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S HARPER'S BAZAAR TUTORIAL - THE OMBRE MINI

This week will be the last post for Harper's Bazaar for this year, but I've got so many projects planned with them for next year so look forward to a very creative 2012!

Wearing: Self designed silk singlet, DIY Dip Dyed Mini Skirt, locally designed metal belt, Zara suede boots.