Re: On to upholstery issues....
Posted by HH56 On 2013/4/4 8:45:14
I started to post a comment yesterday but deleted it since my experience wasn't exactly apples to apples. Here it is anyway.
I did the work to dye NOS material a green color to match original colors on a 54 fabric. Used ordinary RIT fabric dye mixed with very hot water per mfg instructions. The material was the stuff called nylon matelasse. It turned out well but what I dyed was new unsewn cloth and white over black so no changing color questions. Quite the production with that large amount of material though.
Based on that experience and for what they're worth, I'd have some concerns on dyeing your fabric. First, I think there may be a not easily removed thin padding already sewn to the light blue fabric. Can't remember the exact pattern but if seat has the wide pleats, there is good chance it may be sewn in layers and different thicknesses may not take color equally to give an even dye shade. Since it's a fabric already sewn to a size, that could also be an issue if it tried to shrink any. Main reason I bring that shrinking up is because my upholsterer said the 54 had a fair amount of cloth underneath sewn on the bias and crisscrossed to hold the pattern fabric from bunching or shifting. I'd expect the 56 might have the same construction so if something suddenly changed size, what would happen.
Another issue is getting the shade you want on the light blue. It will take some experimentation to find the right time in the dye and mix for the starting color. Since yours is already colored, finding enough hidden scraps in the faded colors to play with might be an issue. Trying with unfaded blue colored scraps already the shade you want from a hidden area will probably result in a different shade on the "faded to greenish" areas. At any rate, even if the job turns out reasonably even overall, whatever end color will most likely wind up being darker than the original. On the dark navy wool broadcloth, not so much the issue getting the color but I'd wonder how it would hold up with shrinking -- or at all for that matter. When I had my 56 Patrician, I remember the broadcloth over the seat backs -rear was really bad- being faded, thin and fairly weak. It may self destruct if you remove and try to dye it.
If you do try, the only other thing to suggest is do it all at once. Not in batches because a difference in time submerged in dye and the temp of dye will result in a different shade. Having a multicolored car will be the inevitable result.
For a low cost presentable option for now, I'd lean more toward finding or having made an acceptable seat cover along the lines of the "Cushion Toppers" Packard offered as an accessory in 56. Once finances permit then do the upholstery properly.
I did the work to dye NOS material a green color to match original colors on a 54 fabric. Used ordinary RIT fabric dye mixed with very hot water per mfg instructions. The material was the stuff called nylon matelasse. It turned out well but what I dyed was new unsewn cloth and white over black so no changing color questions. Quite the production with that large amount of material though.
Based on that experience and for what they're worth, I'd have some concerns on dyeing your fabric. First, I think there may be a not easily removed thin padding already sewn to the light blue fabric. Can't remember the exact pattern but if seat has the wide pleats, there is good chance it may be sewn in layers and different thicknesses may not take color equally to give an even dye shade. Since it's a fabric already sewn to a size, that could also be an issue if it tried to shrink any. Main reason I bring that shrinking up is because my upholsterer said the 54 had a fair amount of cloth underneath sewn on the bias and crisscrossed to hold the pattern fabric from bunching or shifting. I'd expect the 56 might have the same construction so if something suddenly changed size, what would happen.
Another issue is getting the shade you want on the light blue. It will take some experimentation to find the right time in the dye and mix for the starting color. Since yours is already colored, finding enough hidden scraps in the faded colors to play with might be an issue. Trying with unfaded blue colored scraps already the shade you want from a hidden area will probably result in a different shade on the "faded to greenish" areas. At any rate, even if the job turns out reasonably even overall, whatever end color will most likely wind up being darker than the original. On the dark navy wool broadcloth, not so much the issue getting the color but I'd wonder how it would hold up with shrinking -- or at all for that matter. When I had my 56 Patrician, I remember the broadcloth over the seat backs -rear was really bad- being faded, thin and fairly weak. It may self destruct if you remove and try to dye it.
If you do try, the only other thing to suggest is do it all at once. Not in batches because a difference in time submerged in dye and the temp of dye will result in a different shade. Having a multicolored car will be the inevitable result.
For a low cost presentable option for now, I'd lean more toward finding or having made an acceptable seat cover along the lines of the "Cushion Toppers" Packard offered as an accessory in 56. Once finances permit then do the upholstery properly.
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