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Thread: repairing a gown

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    Featured Member cottoncandy's Avatar
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    Default repairing a gown

    Anyone know how to remove glue (from a hot glue gun) from a gown? ???I bought a gown off of ebay and when I received it there was hot glue gun glue stuck in the chest area. (This flaw wasn't mentioned in the despcription although it was part of a lot.) I think the person who made it used a hot glue gun to glue mirrors onto it. Normally I wouldn't care too much about glue stuck to a gown however it's right at the sheer purple net chest area and it's attaching the fabric to itself making the fabric folded or creased at the chest area. The fold is about 10-11 inches long- and the glue is stuck at 3 places. It definately wasn't intentional and it's quite obvious.
    If anyone has any suggestions on how to remove the glue without damaging the gown I'd appreciate it so I can wear my gown.

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Blech- consider asking for a partial refund. Everything can and should be assumed to be in very good condition unless otherwise mentioned.

    As for removing the glue...what type of fabric is it? netting attached to...? Is the glue close to the seam? You may be able to take it in a bit to get rid of the glue.

    Post a pic if possible, I'm good at this- my hobby is refurbishing old dancer costumes

    (I'm assuming you can't just pick it off?)

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Sheer netting? That sucks...it's going to be a bit of a pain...What a headache! I would ask for a partial refund as well!

    If you carefully pick it off, then it may not rip the netting...but being that it is netting, the glue will get down into the holes and all. You can try slowly heating the glue up and then attempt to peel it off when it is kind of warm. Be careful not to get the netting/glue too hot as it will melt the netting, as well.

    My suggestion is to take the dress to a seamstress...they may be able to do something with it...


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    Featured Member cottoncandy's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Thanks for the replies- I appreciate it. Melting the glue sounds like a good idea. Here's some pictures of the fold from the glue.

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    Featured Member cottoncandy's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Here's another one. I know the bra looks weird- I just took the picture quickly at 1am tonight. Thanks.

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Oh, dear...that's definitely going to be a headache. Have you tried to carefully pull apart the glued material? Then just very gently rub the glue and it should start to pull up. Although, now that I'm looking at it...I am not sure heating the glue up would work well...I want to hear what Scarlett has to suggest about this.

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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    you may want to consider altering the gown ie: a keyhole cutout.


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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Ugh, that is messy.

    Can you pull the fold apart (razor thru the glue) and then glue on more mirror/rhinestone things to cover the glue spots?

    A keyhole cutout is a good idea, but I don't think the netting would be strong enough to hold the shape.

    If I had the gown here I'd just take the netting out at the seams and put new stuff in. THAT would be easiest, by far.

    Looks great, otherwise

    Feature costumes for sale!

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    PS I think you should demand a partial refund, and use that money to get a local alteration shop to put new netting in. I used to work at one, and we would have charged about $12-$15 CAD if you brought in the new fabric and stitch ripped the original netting out yourself.

    It would be worth it, imo.

    Feature costumes for sale!

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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    covering it up seems to be the easiest option but then you would likely cover up most of the cleavage area.

    might be tricky to find netting in the same color and stretch hole size (i hope you guys know what I mean) but in club lighting that wouldn't matter anyhow.

    keyhole is still an option. I've had several mesh gowns with keyhole cutouts they were reinforced along the edges with fabric and the edges were studded with rhinestones. Although they were a more sturdy stretch mesh. Not the super delicate mesh.

    Very beautiful gown you've got there and such a lovely color! I'd be trying to fix it too.

    did anybody google hot glue gun removal?


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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    I think vg may be on the right track with heating it up (use an absorbant backing underneath) and sponging up what you can. one site in particular suggested spraying isopropyl alcohol then placing transer paper and using a hear press (iron?)

    You could probably find some sort of adhesive removal (like gum out) but that itself might damage the fabric. What a bummer. It's such a pretty dress.


  12. #12
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Yeah...I've been asking people around here (know a few seamstresses) and the consensus was pretty much, "Uhhhhh..." LOL

    You should definitley contact the seller and demand a refund...the dress is unusable in it's current condition.

    As for repairing...netting is hard to work with (especially in this situation). It's fragile and though the keyhole is a good idea...netting (when not seamed with other material) will run. Also, using too high of a heat source will melt the netting. I wish the dress was here so I could actually look at it (it's hard to really see what's going on with it in a picture) but you could do what Scarlett suggested, as well. Carefully separate the glued portions and then carefully glue on more gems. Since this is the design in the middle...having more gems probably wouldn't be "weird" looking. It would probably look pretty good.

    Also, I cannot tell...is the rhinestone design just under that stuck, too? It looks like it's doing the same thing, but I cannot really tell...

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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    did you already leave feedback for the seller?


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    Featured Member cottoncandy's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    I slowly pulled apart the netting like Venus and Scarlett recommended and the netting didn't tear and it came apart! Now I just have to remove the white residue- I think I'll try heating it or using alcohol and then ironing like Sapphire recocomened. I haven't left the seller feedback but I feel a little bad leaving negative feedback and someone told me if you leave someone bad feedback they may leave you bad feedback in return.

    Thank you guys so much for thinking how to fix the gown and your replies! I was amazed at the number of replies. I was about to give up on my dress since I thought the netting would be too delicate to pull apart. Thanks!

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Just be careful with the heating part!! Too high of heat will melt the netting! Maybe try gently pulling the glue parts off and then gently rubbing the rest of it...good luck...and let us know how it goes!!

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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    have you tried looking on line for some tip.. like searching google? maybe theres an adhisive remover for the glue?

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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Actually, I remember removing candle wax from a bathing suit once by ironing it over and over with a paper bag in between the fabric and the iron...the wax melted and was absorbed by the bag. Had to use a few bags, took some time, but it worked. Maybe that would work for the glue?

    Feature costumes for sale!

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    Featured Member cottoncandy's Avatar
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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    I ironed the gown with a piece of paper between it and the iron and a some of the glue came off. I tried it on and the little bit of glue left is not noticeable . Here's a picture of me wearing it. Thank you!

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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Nice job! I love it!


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    Default Re:repairing a gown

    Beautiful!! I'm so glad that it worked out favorably for you!!


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