Repairing Cigarette Burns on a Silk Dress?

Cyinda
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 213 Posts

May 28, 20080 found this helpful

You can never repair it back to it's original state, but if you took it to an expert, what they'd do is take out some threads from the hem or seams & use these & a tiny needle to weave a new "patch" INTO the burnt part. This is delicate & detailed work. In a way it's like "darning", but WAY more intricate.

An easier thing to do, would be to have someone with an embroidery machine either embroider a a small flower or a flowing vine of just leaves or leaves AND flowers over that spot, using the burn as a sorry of an "eyelet" with a tiny matching patch under the hole so your body won't show through (If the burn is in a bad spot). Or find some silk fabric that looks nice with the dress, then embroider several flowers on the matching silk, then cut them out (& fray-check them) then sew them on to the dress, & maybe use small seed beads in the center of the flowers or larger beads as "berries".

OR: You can hand embroider a leaf vine over the burned area & use classy crystal buttons or beads (as berries) to cover the burned area. You might also be able to add pockets with a matching fabric? (depending on WHERE the burn is & the style of the dress). Also, a ruffle is another possibility?

The easiest fix: You can simply flick off (or cut) the dark burned area away, then cut a small piece of matching silk from the hem or seams, then go around the edges of the burn & the patch piece with "Fray Check" (so it won't unravel) then either iron the matching patch down with fusible webbing or if its in the right area, sew the patch on from the bottom.

Patching with something pretty is really the only way I can think of. Unless the burn is near a seam. This way you could simply make the seam larger to encase the burn. I guess you could always add a "Dart" to the dress to take in the burned area, I can't really help you because you didn't say WHERE the hole is located on the dress & if the dress is a print or solid & if there's a little bit of extra room to "take in" the dress with a dart or two. Also, it would be nice to know exactly WHAT kind of silk the dress is made from. Is it slippery & shiny silk, raw silk, or is it chiffon silk (transparent) & what is it lined with?

I'm sorry, but there really is no good way to patch a cigarette burn unless the burn is in a "good" area of the garment. Maybe someone else can give you more ideas.

All of Cyinda's ideas look good to me. Some other ways to cover up the burn would be with a pocket, beading, a broach, a belt, or a bit of lace. When disguising something like this it's best to make them in multiples so it looks like it was done on purpose.

Londa