a) Decorated Fabrics
This picture shows some of the fabrics decorated with paint that were produced either using the cut out stamp from Chapter 2 or the other methods that were tested on paper, such as dabbing paint on with bubble wrap, applying through a kitchen strainer (small dots)or through a plastic slide (criss cross pattern). In general I tended to prefer decorations that were not too distinct and were a deeper shade of the base fabric (e.g. the blue on blue, silver on blue, bronze on yellow-orange, gold on bright orange. Some of the fabrics were sheer e.g. the blue stamped fabric on the left, the orange stamped fabric on the right and the criss cross fabric in the middle.
The positioning of the sheers over different background fabrics in the photo illustrates how different effects can be produced depending on whether the base fabric is light or dark. In general, the stamped patterns stand out more if the base fabric is a similar or darker colour than the sheer and a washed out effect is obtained if the base fabric is lighter or a contrasting colour.
b) Dyed fabrics & threads
I had the opportunity to participate in an introductory dyeing day run by two friends from the NSW Embroiderers' Guild. I used this day to produce some other patterned orange and blue fabrics and threads to extend the range of materials I would have available for later exercises in the module. The attached pictures show some of the activities on the dyeing day.
Method
The dyes used were Drimarine K Fibre Reactive dyes, colours Turquoise, Blue 2R, Golden Yellow and Scarlet. The dye mixture consisted of 30 ml dye, 65 ml urea & 250 ml water. Intermediate shades, oranges & browns were produced by experimental mixing of the individual dye solutions. A low immersion method was used, where materials were spread in shallow trays and the dyes were dropped on to the fabrics or threads with a syringe. These were left for 30-60 minutes before the application of soda ash solution (45 mL soda ash to 1 litre very hot water), and then left overnight and treated the next day with hot water and then rinsed in cold water. As shown in the pictures below, I managed to achieve my goal of having some extra fabrics and dyed threads to use for my samples.
Photo 1: Matching dye mixes to some of my sample fabrics
Photo 2: Mixing the dye. Note use of gloves and mask while handling the dye powder.
Photo 3: Some items ready for dyeing - folded fabric with pegs placed at intervals, fabric twisted around rope, fabric scrunched and tied into a bundle
Photo 4: An item after dye was applied - see top right in photo 5 for the result.
Photo 5: Final dyed fabrics, clockwise from top left: blue fabric twisted around rope,blue fabric with rubber bands placed at intervals as in photo 4, orange-yellow scrunch, orange yellow fabric bunched over stones.
Photo 6: Two fabrics dyed by folding & placing pegs at intervals
Photo 7: Bunches of hand-dyed mixed threads
Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Annette Glare and Robin Kaltenbach for their expert tutoring and for taking these photos. Thanks also to Deb Kennedy for some of the fabrics and materials used in the dyeing process.
This picture shows some of the fabrics decorated with paint that were produced either using the cut out stamp from Chapter 2 or the other methods that were tested on paper, such as dabbing paint on with bubble wrap, applying through a kitchen strainer (small dots)or through a plastic slide (criss cross pattern). In general I tended to prefer decorations that were not too distinct and were a deeper shade of the base fabric (e.g. the blue on blue, silver on blue, bronze on yellow-orange, gold on bright orange. Some of the fabrics were sheer e.g. the blue stamped fabric on the left, the orange stamped fabric on the right and the criss cross fabric in the middle.
The positioning of the sheers over different background fabrics in the photo illustrates how different effects can be produced depending on whether the base fabric is light or dark. In general, the stamped patterns stand out more if the base fabric is a similar or darker colour than the sheer and a washed out effect is obtained if the base fabric is lighter or a contrasting colour.
b) Dyed fabrics & threads
I had the opportunity to participate in an introductory dyeing day run by two friends from the NSW Embroiderers' Guild. I used this day to produce some other patterned orange and blue fabrics and threads to extend the range of materials I would have available for later exercises in the module. The attached pictures show some of the activities on the dyeing day.
Method
The dyes used were Drimarine K Fibre Reactive dyes, colours Turquoise, Blue 2R, Golden Yellow and Scarlet. The dye mixture consisted of 30 ml dye, 65 ml urea & 250 ml water. Intermediate shades, oranges & browns were produced by experimental mixing of the individual dye solutions. A low immersion method was used, where materials were spread in shallow trays and the dyes were dropped on to the fabrics or threads with a syringe. These were left for 30-60 minutes before the application of soda ash solution (45 mL soda ash to 1 litre very hot water), and then left overnight and treated the next day with hot water and then rinsed in cold water. As shown in the pictures below, I managed to achieve my goal of having some extra fabrics and dyed threads to use for my samples.
Photo 1: Matching dye mixes to some of my sample fabrics
Photo 2: Mixing the dye. Note use of gloves and mask while handling the dye powder.
Photo 3: Some items ready for dyeing - folded fabric with pegs placed at intervals, fabric twisted around rope, fabric scrunched and tied into a bundle
Photo 4: An item after dye was applied - see top right in photo 5 for the result.
Photo 5: Final dyed fabrics, clockwise from top left: blue fabric twisted around rope,blue fabric with rubber bands placed at intervals as in photo 4, orange-yellow scrunch, orange yellow fabric bunched over stones.
Photo 6: Two fabrics dyed by folding & placing pegs at intervals
Photo 7: Bunches of hand-dyed mixed threads
Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Annette Glare and Robin Kaltenbach for their expert tutoring and for taking these photos. Thanks also to Deb Kennedy for some of the fabrics and materials used in the dyeing process.
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