Fabrics and threads already available using my chosen colour scheme of purple and yellow (see above)
Cold water dyeing using acrylic paints to dye beads, dip dyeing and random dyeing
Monoprinting fabrics from existing stock and hand dyed from previous exercise
Fabrics and threads already available
Here are two images of a tonal sequence of purple then yellow fabrics
In addition I have a wide range of threads (not shown here). Some will be seen in future chapters.
Cold water dyeing
Health & Safety and instructions are recorded in my file
Using acrylic paints to dye a selection of items, beads, buttons, silk cocoons, screws, spiral wires
A selection of items were divided into those to be yellow only, purple only, some of the yellow to also be yellow and purple.
A drop of yellow acrylic paint was dropped into a jam jar, sealed with a lid with selected items and shaken.
This was repeated with purple and later some yellow items were added to the purple.
Dry dyes were picked up by the items giving a speckled effect. Possibly a smoother coverage could be achieved mixing the paint with a little water or fabric medium.
After each colouring the items were left to dry on newspaper covered plastic sheeting.
It was important for as many items not to stick together.
The mixed items once dry were stored in a jam jar, shown in the following image
Natural fabrics and threads were dyed using Dylon fabric dyes: Intense violet and Sunflower yellow
The Dylon dye was prepared using the instructions on the packets
Salt solution was prepared to allow dyes to penetrate fabrics
Soda solution (washing soda) prepared to help fix the dyes
Each of these can be safely stored separately in sealed labelled jars but once mixed will become old (can be used as inks)
A dyeing day was selected
Prior to this fabrics were washed to remove chemicals and ironed and cut into manageable sizes (A4)
Some fabrics were gathered using nylon thread into spiral as Tritik Shabori.
Some threads were gathered into small skeins for dip dyeing
Some fabrics and threads were set aside for random dyeing
A selection of baths were prepared for purple and yellow only dyeing
A black dye bath for dip dyeing of some yellow items
A tray for dip dyeing
The following day a tray for random dyeing
Ordinary dyeing
After approximately one hour the purple and yellow dyed items were rinsed in cold water, washed in warm soapy water then rinsed again. Items were left to dry on newspaper covered plastic sheeting, with some on a washing rack where it didn't matter if the dyes ran.
I was particularly pleased with the results, varying tones of colour achieved dependent on the material.
I redid some dyeing later with pure silk, using dip dyeing and random dyeing techniques.
Dip dyeing
The different prepared fabrics and threads, having dipped them in salt then soda solutions, were dipped in the pots of dye and left overnight. The next day items were washed in cold water only. Here are two or three samples. I particularly liked the difference between folded fabrics in squares or triangles.
The samples shown are in linen and silk.
Random dyeing
A selection of fabrics were random dyed putting crunched up or folded fabric, then adding dye one at a time into plastic bags leading to more mixing of colour. Once ready the items were rinsed in cold water only and left to dry as others.
Here are some samples: the first using the cotton Tritik Shabori was dip dyed and random dyed, others were linen and polycotton.
The first piece has a spiral effect from the stitching, the second an haphazard lively arrangement of colour and the last subtle shades (the newspaper print shows through while the fabric is still damp).
Monoprinting fabrics
Several samples of monoprinting were produced, with a musical theme and using:
Commercial dyed fabrics
Home dyed fabrics (including some previously dyed materials with coffee or tea)
Non-dyed fabrics
The monoprinting is in two sequences
The first sequence at home, consisting of at lease 42 samples, commercial and hand-dyed fabrics in cotton, chiffon, linen, wet wipes (coloured as wiped up paints), lutrador, muslin, velvet, silk, organza and polycotton
The second sequence at least 10 samples generated at the Summer School where Sue Dove was tutor, using mostly non-dyed fabrics: polycotton, muslin, linen, curtain lining, silk, calico and blanket
First sequence
A selection of fabrics were chosen with different textures and colouring.
Acrylic paints mixed with fabric medium were painted over an A4 glass screen.
Different brushes and sponge brushes were used to spread the colours or draw designs, then marked with different tools: sticks, cotton buds, serrated cut credit card, plastic fork
I also made masks from paper and plastic (for more permanency) to place on painted screen or used them to print paint from them on to fabric.
For each design a heavier fabric was followed by a lighter, such as organza, chiffon, lutrador to use up the paints.
The lighter materials could be used for buttons or to layer on other fabrics, and lutrador can be burnt away.
The techniques used for each sample were listed in my file.
Health & Safety requirements were also recorded
Here are a few samples, showing different designs or fabrics, with or without dyed effect.
They were similar but not necessarily matching the earlier paper monoprints:
Where possible I'm trying to show movement, rhythm and rotation. Some more effective than others.
With the last sample I tried to locate the monoprint so masks corresponded to bursts of purple.
Second sequence
Here are just a few monoprints from Sue Dove's workshop.
The fabrics were not hand-dyed first, but it was great having the opportunity to use a variety of fabrics: muslin, linen, silk, cotton, curtain lining and blanket.
The paints included an oil based paint on tiles (a new technique) and acrylic paints with fabric medium on glass.
The use of masks for both sequences of monoprints originated at Sue's workshop.
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