Dipping into ice cube dyeing...

I wanted to have fabrics that tied in with my eco printed pieces, so decided the best way forward was to dye my own. I have dyed fabric before, but not for ages, so read up on all my books beforehand, and left my fabric to soak in soda ash overnight. 

fabric soaking in soda ash

Then I had fun and miraculously not ended up multicoloured myself!

I followed a couple of people's ideas on ice dyeing, layering up the previously soaked fabric in the bottom of a bucket, covering with ice cubes, then sprinkling with reactive all in one dye. Repeat the layer, and leave the ice to melt for 24 hours.

This is more experimental than might be useful for the piece of work I have in mind, but you never know, serendipity might call.

ice dyeing

For more useful fabric I tried the plastic bag method, pouring the mixed dye into the plastic bag containing the pre soaked fabric. I'm really please with the appearance so far, but rinsing the fabric might really mute the colours more than I'd like. Time will tell, the proof is in the curing overnight I guess.

plastic bag method

While I was in the zone I quickly dyed a few skeins of thread, to use with my slow hand stitched piece of botanical print work shown in the last post.

dyeing skeins of thread

All rinsed and washed, now a blow on the line, quick iron and then stitch...almost reminds me of black currant and pistachio ice cream!

dyed fabrics

Thanks for reading,
Debbie

Exploring eco-printing...

My work for our next theme has been inspired by the root of the word textiles. In relation to this I've been exploring eco-printing, using vegetable and plant material to produce prints on cloth. I have had such enjoyment from these play sessions: selecting plants from my garden, which I love; then steaming them (using a steamer given by a friend) and trying to be oh so patient waiting the required few days for the prints to cure before peeping!

I have been like a child on Christmas morning waiting to unwrap and see what unfolds from within these tightly tied rolls of smelly vegetation! But well worth the wait in most cases, not all. I've tried to be good and record the process as I go along.

Here are some photos, hopefully my background tablecloth does not impede too much!

eco-printing ready to unroll

eco-printing result

Thanks for reading,
Debbie

Books, books, books and a little extra from Sue...

Just our altered books to share with you this month...

Jenni 

Jenni

Jenni

Debbie

Debbie

Debbie

Debbie

Jane

Margaret

Rosemary

Rosemary

Rosemary

Repairing and Restoring Antiques was the latest altered book I worked on, lucky for me there was a page on repairing a broken plate. For our Cornwall.Collected Exhibition in 2016 I made vessels using the English Paper Piecing method, drawing around the broken china my daughters collected when they were small.

I thoroughly enjoyed making those vessels and it was a great way to re-visit this method. I drew a pattern knowing I wanted to incorporate the pictures of the broken plate, intending to attach to the work once it was finished. It may seem strange to put so much time and effort into a piece that's going to be sat inside a book, but I love paper piecing and the restfulness of the method. This allowed me to use some lovely softly patterned fabrics which replicated old china.

Once it was sewn together I attached the paper cut-outs to the appropriate shapes then sandwiched with wadding, free motion stitched and hand embellished. Finally, trimmed and zigzag stitched the edges. A little gold paint was added to replicate the gold edges on china.
I painted the page the same colours as the piece ready to insert, but being quilted it was too thick and bunched up when I tried to close the book. I decided to cut a jagged edge down the middle like the broken plate, zigzag stitched, painted the edges as before and laced the piece across the centre of the book. I think that little bit of extra detail made all the difference and worth the effort.

Sue

Hope you enjoyed our post and our new header picture, back soon.
Sue