A Matching Bra

I designed a knitted corset dress. In order to make it easily wearable, I decided to include a built-in bra.

Bra choice: Hanes Concealing Petals Strapless Underwire Bra in white, 36B

I needed 34C for strapless bra to work on me but Hanes does not produce this bra in C cup for size 34. 

Dye choice: Rit Liquid Dye in evening blue
 

Rit Liquid Dye in Evening Blue

Dyeing Recipe
Ingredients:
1 gallon hot tap water
4oz Rit liquid dye (8oz bottle)
1/2 cup vinegar

Tools:
Rubber gloves
Unwanted pot (I bought a crock pot from Goodwill thrift store for USD1.99)
Unwanted spatula (again from Goodwill for USD0.99)

Steps:

1. Soak bra thoroughly in warm water.
2. Add all ingredients in pot and stir well.
3. Add bra and removable straps into pot.
4. Submerge items under dye mixture.
5. Move them around every 5-10 minutes for one hour. Make sure to move sliders of adjustable straps as well. (I forgot on mine.)
6. Rinse well in warm water until water runs clear.
7. Press as much water out as possible.
8. Hang dry.

Dye mixture

Last rinse cycle

Bra composition

Results:

The main nylon fabric turns out vibrantly blue. The polyester cup linings are mostly light blue. The bra hooks, sliders, and hooks-and-eyes appear undyed. The bra also appears just a little bit darker when wet.

I also dyed a piece of 100% white cotton fabric (muslin) for comparison. It turns out to be dull teal as indicated on the Rit liquid dye bottle itself.

Left: Wet, Right: Dry

Left column: Right side, Right column: Wrong side
1. & 2. Cups, lining, elastic band, and under-wire channeling
3. & 4. Side reinforcement and thread color
5. & 6. Back bands, hooks-and-eyes, straps, anti-slip rubbery bands

Dyed 100% cotton (muslin)

© A Matching Bra 

Check out the knitted corset dress here!