Indigo Dyeing Day

Its been a very long long time since I have blogged but I am just soo excited to tell you what I have been up to today!

A lady (who met me a while ago at a fair) contacted me and asked if I would help her do some Indigo dyeing with her for a quilt she was making.  Like, how fast could I say yes!!!

Anyway today Kay came over to my house and we broke out the indigo and got to the dyeing. She was dyeing linen.

We pleated, folded, wrapped and rubber banded.

It comes out of the dye quite green until it oxidises and turns blue.

and here are the results:

What an awesome day!  Thanks Kay

Shibori Results

Here are some of the results from the shibori that I dyed on Saturday:

The stripes are not bold enough

Love the results with the beads

Loving the texture the pegs give!

 I also folded some more ready to be dyed another colour:

Stitching the triangles

The triangles pulled and bound

Aren't these just sooo cute!!!! These were gifts from two of my quilting buddies - Thanks Alison and Jesse.

Went to Arab street today with Jesse to shop for fabric eat at our favourite Lebanese restaurant and saw a large rat in the restaurant!!  They certainly look much cuter in liberty fabrics!

Happy Quilting!

Shibori Techniques

This week my kids FINALLY went back to school!!!  I love my kids but 10 weeks of school holidays puts a bit of a damper on any kind of creative expression.....Anyway back to it!!!

This week I am trying out some other shibori techniques, I have been watching you tube videos of how the masters do it in Japan.  If only my fingers were that nimble and quick!

Here a 1/4 metre was folded in half then machine sewn with large basting stitches.  The stitches were then pulled tight.

 This is a fat quarter which has been pleated then machine basted.

 This fat quarter was folded in four and hand basting in a wavy pattern.  The stitches were then gathered.  I have attached a chopstick to one side so that the threads wouldn't come undone and it gave me tension to pull the fabric tight. (sadly one of the rows came undone when the thread broke)  Its not a mistake - just a redesign!

With this piece I have marked two inch by two inch dots, add a bead under each dot and secure with thread.  I am sure the Japanese masters could have this finished in a matter of minutes but I have to be patient and it will take me a while.  I do find it relaxing though.

I hope to do some with clamps as well before I do the dyeing next week. I will post the results next week.

This week I also met the sister of one of my quilting friends and she has just been on a course on natural dyeing.  This is something I have been thinking about as I wonder how environmentally friendly the procion dyes are on the environment.  I would love to hear your thoughts about this.....

Happy Quilting!

Ombre and shibori dyeing

I have been trying my hand at some ombre dyeing but with mixed results:

Dip dyeing

The dip Dyeing method was not very successful (above) and it was very time consuming.  I might have to create some sort of pulley system as holding the fabric for 20-30 minutes at each gradient was hard on the arms.
Next I tried laying the fabric out on a piece of black cardboard and sprayed the colour from dark to light on. Unfortunately the black cardboard bled into the fabric.  Hmm I think that is a piece that will have to be overdyed!

Shibori Ombre 1

 Next up was the shibori (pole wrapping) using  fuchsia and diluting the dye as we worked down the fabric.  Very happy with the results and the colours blend nicely without leaving a distinctive line.

Shibori Ombre 2

Shibori Cobalt/Golden Yellow

 Next up: Shibori (pole wrapping) using cobalt and golden yellow.  Still one of my favourites and a best seller! I have 3 of these for sale and will be posting them on etsy soon, or email me if you can't wait that long!

Cobalt gradient

 Lastly the cobalt gradients - I haven't done a set like this in ages but its a good way to build up the stash.

I have also been working on my challenge quilt for the art quilts around the world and will post at the end of the month (don't want to let the cat out of the bag!!!!)

The re-organisation of the sewing room is on going and have finally got the comic book backing boards that I will be folding the fabric on - acid free of course!

Happy Quilting!

Dyeing Frenzy!

I have been busy doing more dyeing this week and it's been lot of fun!

Shibori Folding technique

Shibori pole technique

Shibori folding/sewing technique

Shibori pole technique

Shibori pole technique

 These next four pieces are part of a meter that I dyed and then divided into 4.  Isn't it interesting how different they all are?!

Ice Dyed Onesie with police car 9-12 months

Ice dyed Onesie 24-36 months

All these items are available for sale in my etsy shop:

http://www.jokamamotextiles.etsy.com

I have dyed some more of the scarves as well but will post photos of these later
p.s a big thanks to my husband for taking the photos!

Happy Quilting!

Ice Dyes

Nearly all the of ice dyes I did last week have sold so yesterday I set up new batches.

I have decided to work smarter (not harder) and do one colour-way at a time rather than mixing a whole lot of colours and worrying about whether they will look ok (I actually like the "surprise" factor!)

Here are the Turquoise/Cerulean Blue and Cobalt blue:

These would be great for skies, seas, water or background. Would look great in applique too. Blue is my favourite colour so I really love these!  I have 4 meters (16 metric fat 1/4's)  so either email me or check out my new website:

 Jokamamo Textiles

The next batch is Chinese Red, Orange and Golden Yellow:

This would be great for applique,  traditional piecing or a bright coloured background. I love these warm colours!

I have 4 metres (12 metric fat 1/4's) so either email me or check out my new website:

                                                         Jokamamo Textiles

Happy Quilting!