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Show Woman's World Reclaim Khakis and Navy Blues For Making Wearing Apparel i3u lrlta Jadeii "TOW that many boys have marched home from overseas service, many a homemaker has begun be-gun to wonder about the possibility of using those wonderful khaki and navy blue clothes for something useful. It's very true that the fabric fab-ric in these clothes is much too good to be shut up in mothproof bags or closets. They can be converted into excellent civilian wearing apparel. ap-parel. The main problem in using clothing cloth-ing of this type is to really change the appearance, and experience proves that it can be done. Sad-colored Sad-colored olive drab can actually be dyed so you won't know the origin. And as for navy blue, it's a good substantial color which you probably prob-ably won't change, especially if you change the style of the garment sufficiently. If you've had a WAVE in the family, then you'll be surprised how beautifully her navy blue suit alters al-ters into something very attractive. If the girl herself is using the suit, it probably won't need much alteration alter-ation in fitting. R,emove the insignia, in-signia, and add some bright red braid around the shoulders and sleeves, or run the braiding all around the bustline in several rows, and you'll be surprised at how nicely the garment reconverts. It's only natural that you might hesitate at dyeing the heavy olive drab garments but it really can be done. Wool Dyeing Requires Simmering Temperature The important points to remember remem-ber when dyeing woolens can be summarized in five steps. These are particularly applicable when you are dyeing such things as ex-service clothing. 1. Measure the garment before dyeing or draw its outline on a large sheet of paper for measuring measur-ing purposes. Convert service uniforms . . . 2. Make sure you have enough dye for the quantity of fabric you are dyeing. Because of their heavy weight woolens require more dye per yard than cottons or rayons. 3. Use a simmering temperature all during the dyeing period. Use a large enough vessel for the purpose pur-pose so that you can stir the garment gar-ment gently in its dye bath. Avoid rough treatment as this makes the garment shrink. 4. Remember that wools appear much darker when wet than when dry. Test a small strip of fabric by ironing dry to make sure you have the shade desired. 5. When you are satisfied with the color, rinse the garment thoroughly. thor-oughly. Then stretch it to its original origi-nal proportions, using the pencilled figure or measurements mentioned above. Iron the woolens while they are Just barely damp. Of course you understand this has to be done with a pressing cloth or the wool will develop an ugly shine. If the garment gar-ment has not stretched to its proper prop-er shape, it can be stretched even more while you are pressing the fabric. Into fashionable clothing. While dyeing will cause some shrinkage, the most shrinkage you can expect of a properly treated garment gar-ment should not exceed three-quarters of an inch. It can certainly be a lot less if you give the garment your most gentle treatment. If you've been following fashion news lately, you know that the hip length boxy jacket is one of the very smartest things to own. The wonderful quality of service overcoats over-coats is excellent material to use for them. Reclaim Those Overcoats For Smart, Boxy Jackets Incidentally, you won't want the coat an olive drab. Dye it one of the following beautiful colors: navy blue, dark green, jade green, scarlet, scar-let, cardinal red, dark brown or black. Dyeing will be much easier if the coat is first ripped at the seams. This makes it less bulky to handle in the dye bath. And incidentally, once the ripping is done, a big job is out of the way and you can begin sewing so much sooner. Use a pattern for cutting the coat down to your measurements and havei it just as square and boxy as possible with trim shoulder lines. A double breasted model with large pearl buttons will look very up-to-the-minute. If you don't want a collar on the coat, then have it collarless, buttoning button-ing up high. Make slit or diagonal diag-onal pockets, and plan to wear it with a gay scarf and a snappy little hat. The cost for an outfit of this type is under five dollars, and you'll have both warmth and wear from the outfit. |