Adventures in Dyeing

Today I did some more fabric dyeing.   But I had bought a few polos on clearance (aka really cheap!) and one of them was white. It isn't white anymore.  

Funny thing though, the thread it was sewn with is still stark white. It didn't take the dye at all. 

The next pieces looked very interesting before they were washed. 

But afterward, they lost a lot of intensity. 

 You are seeing the back of the blue fabric that was overdyed because the front just looks "dirty." However, the back will make a nice neutral to put against a bright color to really make it pop. 

The one below was also wonderful and vivid before it was washed...but now is kind of pastel. I am sure I will find a use for it.

 The this one is another piece of the blue fabric that was overdyed. Again, this is the back.  I think the front was printed with something that resisted retaining the dye.  The back is lovely, I think. 

Finally, this one looks almost as good after washing as it did wet. 

The shibori lines show nicely and the color is good. 

I can tell that I need to invest in some fiber reactive/procion dyes if I want to get intense colors.   Or better yet, I have a birthday at the end of this month if anyone wants to send me some procion dyes. (ha ha) I already have the soda ash that is used as a fixative; I use it for making laundry detergent. 

Shirt Re-do and Star Digitizing

Several weeks months ago I attempted to embroider a polo shirt that I had bought just for that purpose. I had not yet learned to place the embroidery exactly where I want it (okay so I still haven't- sigh!)


I pretty much wrecked the shirt.   I kept trying to find  think of a way to salvage it. Sunday morning really early, before getting out of bed, I just got it in my head.  So it was on my agenda for play time.  I made a pattern out of rice paper (it was handy, the tracing paper wasn't.)  I cut out a piece of fabric (batik - are  you surprised?) and went to work on it. 

Now I know that bottom edge looks wonky in the photo, but it isn't. It is just that it didn't hang straight. 

I also had another pre-dawn idea to work on a digitizing project that I have been playing with. That didn't work out -yet.  But I discovered another thing in my free digitizing program.  So I designed this star. First I sewed it out on just plain stabilizer.

Then I made some edits and sewed it out on some fabric, using a better grade of embroidery thread. 

My stitches are a bit too dense so I got some wrinkling on the right and lower parts. However, I think will still be able to use it. 

And for those that are in the USA and Canada - Happy Labor/Labour Day!

Dyeing For Fun

Today I had a friend do some prep for a form of shibori fabric dyeing for me.  This particular method can be extremely planned or you could have your helper do it randomly. Or you could do it yourself if you have to. 
  
Marbles were individually placed under the fabric and then secured with rubber bands over the top. The rubber bands need to be pretty tight. 


After all the marbles are rubber banded it is time to dye the fabric.  I use Rit dye and a low water immersion method. I used two colors of dye in separate containers that were side by side. I did drizzle some from the burgundy side into the purple side.  After the fabric was rinsed (several times) the marbles and rubber bands were removed. 


Then,  I took it outside and hung it on my chain link fence.  Some textile medium, acrylic paint (golden liquid artist acrylics)  and water were blended together and flung/spattered on the still wet fabric.  Then I left it to dry. 


After drying, I brought it in and ironed it to heat set the paints. 
Here it is:

This shows both sides so that you can see the difference in the areas where the marbles were.  On the side touching the marbles, it resisted the  dye.  On the side away from the marbles it died the centers.  The random edges of those shapes are caused by the bunched fabric held tightly by the rubber bands. 


I am still surprised that I haven't made a mess with the dye.  I think I will buy a few  more colors to play with since I have been so careful with it. 

September is National _(Two things go here)__ Month

Read all of this please!  The second thing is on down the page. 
Today I found out that September is National Preparedness month. Since I work in emergency preparedness, I had to share that with you. Are you ready for an emergency or a disaster?   No?  I consider you my friends so I am offering these links to places that tell you some things to do to prepare. 
http://www.ready.gov/ -tells you how to make a kit, plan and be informed. 
http://www.redcross.org has similar information and maybe a bit more of it.  I love the videos with Jamie Lee Curtis 


Another thing I found out is that this is National Sewing Month.  (Thanks Kelly at IHAN)
She challenged us to write a letter or card to the ones who gave us a love of sewing/quilting.  For me that would be my Grandmothers who are both gone.  However, my blog readers and other bloggers continue to inspire me and feed my love of quilting and sewing.  So I am writing this "card" to say Thank YOU!   You are an inspiration to me.  Those of you who comment frequently help me to find clarity or else inspire me to try something different.  
So I say "Thanks to you all, I really do appreciate you."