Chapter 5 Drawn thread work

This is in three sections, where fabrics were selected and dyed using white red and green to follow the Wales theme and some designs linked to the music theme:

Section 1 Experimenting with drawn threads on non-coloured fabric

Section 2 Colouring fabric

Section 3 Drawn thread samples using coloured fabric

Section 1 Experimenting with drawn threads on non-coloured fabric

This section shows use of five different fabrics from which three were chosen for further work

For further work chose to work with the fabrics on the red page - cream linen scrim, white linen scrim and textured linen

I found doing this work difficult because of the closeness of the threads and fineness of the fabric.                                                                                        Managed some counting and using tapestry needle and tweezers removed threads in pairs as recommended.                                                                             Saved threads pulled from the fabric.

Section 2 Colouring fabric

This highlights the preparation of Cold water dyes using Dylon Rainforest green and Tulip red.

I followed the same methods as in Module 3 Chapter 3

1. Selected three fabrics from Section 1 which I felt accommodated drawn threads; Linen scrim (creamy coloured), white linen scrim and a textured linen
2. Washed, dried and ironed the fabric, cutting into roughly 25 cm squares
3. Prepared 50g of Dylon dyes as indicated on the pack (not adding salt at this stage) – 500ml of each in plastic sealed containers, clearly labelled
4. Stirred together 125g of salt solution in 500ml of hot water, needed to help dye penetrate the fabric.  When dissolved and cool stored in sealed labelled container
5. Stirred together 100g of washing soda in 500ml of warm water, needed to fix the dye.  When dissolved and cool stored in sealed labelled container
6. When ready to dye fabrics or paint on designs, made up two baths of dye (100ml) with extra warm water
7. Prepared two surfaces, one with plastic sheet to colour fabric, transferred to second surface plastic sheet and newspaper to dry naturally 
8. Dipped fabric piece in salt solution then soda solution then brushed over bands of colour (using separate brushes for each dye)
9. One sample of each in solid colour were made by placing in the dye bath – these also gave a better idea of depth of colour, most samples otherwise were quite bland.
10. Possibly next time use 200ml of dye for the dye bath and mix in 200ml of salt solution, less water added, for a darker colour

   

Showing dye baths, dye containers, soda and salt containers and plastic surface

Used a well ventilated room, clearly labelled containers and kept out of reach of children when not in use.

Here are a few pieces of coloured fabric:

 

Section 3 Drawn thread samples using coloured fabric

Here are the samples made, ten in all.  They are roughly 25 cm square .  Some samples were cut in half and were kept together.

I have a feeling that I will need to produce more for further work.  I am not sure that these emphasis each method well enough. 

These show several techniques with comments on the accompanying labels. 

Most samples have fringes and threads removed were saved as also any edges cut from the piece.

 

This sample shows haphazardly spaced drawn threads where the fabric was left gathered for texture – rather like this!

 

This is a sampler showing how thread was drawn across, then stitched back along or around the line from which the thread was removed, in different ways

This sample also shows withdrawn thread re-stitched back into the fabric with a little more adventurous stitching, using a tapestry needle

 

Since doing these I was recommended a fabric which Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn use, supplied by Art Van Go.

Perhaps I should use this for further samples.  I feel the fabric and spacing of threads will be easier to use!

I can see the advantages and adventurous samples drawn thread work will produce, as well as the beauty of traditional techniques.  It takes some mastering.