Monday 18 January 2010

Not Snow Dyeing Part III & New Fabric Design (Not Mine)

I’ve reached the end of my dyeing escapade and have now overdyed the fabrics that weren’t quite so successful in my last post on the subject.

First of all, I had bought some cotton velvet from Barnyarns to have a play with and used some of the reds and oranges and then blues to dye 2 pieces.

dyed velvet

This gorgeous red above is wonderfully vibrant and the dye has taken really well. My only slip up was to wash the fabric in hot water before I dyed it and I managed to shrink it!

dyed velvet2

This wonderful blue has some beautiful turquoise tints which my computer cannot quite manage to show in its true colour but it is beautiful.

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This piece above and the following pieces were all dyed in the layered tub and you need to picture a warmer, browner hue as I have not been successful in getting the right colour on the computer. The marks are wonderful though!

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The piece on the right above is linen and I really love the way this has taken the dye. The slubs in the linen give some lovely highlights.

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This is a piece of a shirt which I overdyed and the colour is really vibrant.

Finally I overdyed the 2 quilts I had made previously. The Journal Quilt for the Contemporary Quilt Group looks very different now and not much of the original colour remains. I have called it ‘Fiori’ after a glimpse of a t-shirt I used.

January Fiori

The second piece is the challenge quilt and more of the original colourway is visible here:

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The light areas that show in the photograph are not so prominent in real life. They come from netting and a synthetic mix fabric that I used in the original weaving. I’ve shown the quilt horizontally because I am thinking of making it into a sketchbook cover after the challenge deadline. I am very tempted to add beads too but may not have time before Thursday the reveal day. Oops! I’ve revealed already! Sorry Tina!

I’ve enjoyed the dyeing and will be doing some more but I have to sort my workroom out and get it warmed up before I do anymore as I can’t keep using the conservatory.

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I have to tell you about my best friend’s daughter who recently began working as a designer with Makower who make fabrics for patchworkers and quilters. A couple of days ago her Mum brought round a sample of her first design for the company and I have managed to track it down on the Makower website. As you can see from the photo above (which I borrowed from the website, oops!) it is all about farm animals and has some charming details to it. I already have a nightdress and some mugs that Michelle had designed previously and I would love to be able to make something for my new nephew/niece from some of these fabrics. If you click here you will be able to see the full range of fabrics Michelle has designed. They should be in the shops anytime. There are three pages of the different designs. I have been looking online but haven’t tracked them down yet but I shall keep looking.

14 comments:

Heather said...

You must be thrilled with your dyeing results Julie - the colours are gorgeous and the quilts made from them are beautiful. Hope you didn't get too tired after all that rinsing, etc. Michelle's fabric designs are such fun - any small child would love something made from them.

Maggi said...

Wonderful results Julie. I like the overdyeing too.

Ann Christy said...

They dyeing has all well really well Julie. I really like the over dyed quilts - lovely colours.

Jan said...

What great colours you have achieved you must be so excited waiting to view the end result whilst doing this ,well done ..love Jan xx

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

I love the patterns and marks in the dyed fabrics.
Love the vibrant colours.

JP said...

I just love all the colours you have achhieved

Julie said...

Thank you Heather and Jan. I do get a bit impatient waiting for the dyes to batch :o) I've got a trick with the rinsing, I do a cold rinse then a couple of warm rinses and then a hot rinse with Metapex (Synthrapol) in the water and a final coldish rinse and then wash in the machine. I am a bit lazy about rinsing so I don't get to the crystal clear bit but so far that hasn't been a problem. I do make full use of colour catchers!

Angela said...

Your dyeing has worked very well. I love the fibrant pink and blue pieces.
Michelle has designed some lovely fabrics.

sweetypie said...

ooh what gorgeuos work that dyeing is lovely cant wait to see it in the flesh you are a clever bean famous and clever

Trudi said...

Lovely dyeing Julie! Such vibrant colours too! I really like the challenge quilt, I must get my own finished, with a Saturday deadline, time is fast approaching :/

B.T.Bear (esq.) said...

Hey we remember yu doin lots ov snow dyeing LARST yeer!! Good Lor! Is it that long ago? :@D

DILLY said...

Hewo Juuuuuuuulie!!!!!!!!!!!
¬"

Linda Vincent said...

It all looks very exciting! I really like those quilts.

Thanks so much for your lovely words Julie - I really appreciate your kindness.
X

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Beautiful dyed pieces Julie. They are so vibrant! Also love the farmyard fabric. Makower is so prestigious! Congratulations to your best friend's daughter xx