Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: Recently you told a lady to use a permanent marker on a black dress that had been spotted with bleach.

I would have bought some appliques large enough to cover the spots or made appliques from scraps of cloth and sewn them on the dress, adding some appliques to places that weren’t stained.

I once salvaged an expensive dress on which I had spilled coffee down the front of the bodice. I started sewing the appliques at the shoulder and ended at the belt, spacing the flowers so they covered the spots.

I used to do this with my kids’ clothes also, using the appliques to fit the age and sex of the child. Sometimes the stains were at an awkward spot, so then I would use permanent markers.

I read your column all the time and have learned many things from you and your readers. Thanks. - Leona Anderson, Rochester, N.Y.