Help me dress like Velma from Scooby Doo and punch holes in things

October 1, 2009 6:31 PM

Where in Toronto can I get a) orange fabric dye, b) orange tights or kneesocks in women's sizes, and c) a leather hole punch?
posted by orange swan to Shopping (9 answers total)

RIT fabric dye is often found at Zellers, or sewing machine repair shops and fabric stores. Gerrard Square at Pape and Gerrard, or Shopper's World on the Danforth at Victoria Park each have both types of stores, and I've seen the dye there, but I can't guarantee orange is there right now. For the record though, I have been ignoring an orange turtleneck sweater at the Value Village on Queen Street East lately that would be perfect for Velma but is not for me, though it tempts me sorely. Tights? American Apparel lists orange tights on their online shopping site, I don't know about the stores. Legs Beautiful is your other best bet, there's one on the Danforth between Broadview and Chester. A shoe repair shop will often offer to punch a hole for you, otherwise you can buy an awl at most hardware stores.
posted by peagood at 6:40 PM on October 1, 2009

PS - I think it's a great idea, and it would be awesome if you painted the lenses of the eyeglasses white with cartoon eyes on them!
posted by peagood at 6:43 PM on October 1, 2009

Response by poster: I've been looking for fabric dye at Zellers, dollar stores and the like, and they never have orange. I haven't tried Fabriclands.

I'll have to check out that orange sweater at the VV — thanks for the tip. If I can find a suitable sweater I won't need the dye anyway;-)
posted by orange swan at 6:56 PM on October 1, 2009

If you're having trouble finding the leather punch at a craft store you might be able to find one or something like one at a marine supply store or a hardware store: a tool for putting grommets in sailcloth or tarpaulin.

Or if you were going to ask someone else to punch holes in your leather this might be a more entertaining place to go than a shoe repair shop.
posted by XMLicious at 7:24 PM on October 1, 2009

The best source for fabric dyes in Toronto is G and S Dye. They sell dyes that are vastly superior to the garbage dyes sold by Rit or Tintex (not that quality matters all that much for a one-time-only costume). Don't forget that orange is easily made by combining red and yellow.

Be careful to match the type of dye you buy to the fiber content of whatever you're dyeing. Use Procion MX dye for cotton or rayon; use "acid" dye for nylon. Tights are usually made of nylon. You won't be able to dye polyester, so if you want to color some polyester buy some fabric paint, instead. G&S Liquid Colour is a good fabric paint.
posted by Ery at 7:25 PM on October 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

I've actually seen the orange turtleneck complete and already orange a couple of times. I remember because I thought "Hey, Velma sweater!" each time.

I'd try one of those big discount rack stores, like Ross or Target or Wal-Mart or something. You could even just phone them all to save hunting around.

In the cartoon, her glasses were bluish, not cartoon white. In the live movie (ugh), they were normal clear glass.
posted by rokusan at 8:01 PM on October 1, 2009

c) a leather hole punch?

Try a Home Depot, Rona, or any hardware store for the punch. I got mine years ago in a set of four ( all different sizes). They really aren't that expensive. They also come in a type that is similar to a pair of scissors, but I have found they don't work very well on heavy material. Depending on how many holes you want punched, you could ask at any leather repair shop if they would do it for you. Most leather shops repair belts. They might charge you a small fee though.
posted by Taurid at 10:57 PM on October 1, 2009

Response by poster: The leather hole punch is for a craft project, so going to cobbler or something to have them do it for me won't be practical or cost-efficient.
posted by orange swan at 10:11 AM on October 2, 2009

Response by poster: Well, I bought orange dye today at Fabriclands. And I priced orange stockings and kneesocks at Legs Beautiful ($15 for kneesocks, $33 for tights) and American Apparel ($19 for stockings, $10 for kneesocks). I'm going to try to dye the baggy, pale yellow thrift shop turtleneck sweater I bought a few weeks ago as well as a pair of plain white tights before I invest money in orange items.

And yes, Velma wears kneesocks, not tights, but then she doesn't have to run around solving mysteries in Toronto in late October.
posted by orange swan at 5:26 PM on October 2, 2009