The aim was to produce random coloured effects on fabric and threads using any methods of my choice to give interesting colourful backgrounds, using a favourite colour scheme from one of my research samples for stitchery which will, in turn, develop into more specific patterned and rhythmic results. In fact I have several favourites from chapter 2 using my chosen colour scheme - samples 2.1, 2.2 and 2.6!
I've chosen to work with brushing or sponging fabrics with dyes plus space dyeing, silk painting, monoprinting and stamping. I also used space dyeing to colour my hand stitching threads
Dyes
I used Dylon Intense colour in navy blue, paradise blue, ocean blue and goldfish orange.
For the best intense colour I mixed the dye with 500mls warm water, mixing the colours as desired and storing them in screw top jars.
To fix the dye I used a fixative made up of one part washing soda to 3 parts salt dissolved in a pint of hot water. This is also stored in a screw top jar and mixed with the dye as needed. Once mixed it must be used on the same day.
[See module 2 ch. 6 and module 3 ch. 3].
4.1 Brushing and sponging with dyes:
Top - linen wet brushed
Middle - linen dry sponged
Lower - cotton organdie wet brushed
4.2 Space dyeing:
Calico, cotton organdie. linen, scrim and silk
Fabric placed in a plastic bag and dyes added, colours mixed and left for several hours before being rinsed in cold water.
4.3 Space dyeing threads:
Skeins untwisted but left intact as a hank or unwound, wrapped around a dish and knotted / secured to form a hank.
The hanks were soaked in the fixative solution and wrung out thoroughly, arranged in plastic trays and dyes spooned or poured over them. Colours mixed for a variegated effect. The threads were placed in a plastic bag and kept wet for at least an hour before rinsing under the cold tap and allowed to dry.
4.4 Monoprinting fabrics
I used a selection of fabrics - calico, linen, muslin, cotton organdie, chiffon, scrim,and woollen felt.
Acrylic paints [ aquamarine and turquoise plus red and orange mixed to orange] and fabric medium.
I used bubble wrap to add paint to a glass surface and laid the fabric over using a roller to ensure even pressure before the fabric was carefully lifted to reveal a gorgeous watery print! Especially effective on chiffon and cotton organdie. Other methods included swirls produced with the edge of a credit card or corrugated cardboard or shapes created by cardboard stamps and added in a random fashion.
4.4 a. Left to right: bubble wrap on chiffon, cotton organdie, swirly pattern on muslin and more bubble wrap on scrim
4.4 b. Linen and cardboard stamp, linen with cardboard stamp plus bubble wrap, calico with cardboard swirls and then bubble wrap.
4.4 c Monoprinted woollen felt fabric: cardboard swirls and bubblewrap
These worked really well with beautiful soft printed effects.
4.5 Silk paints
I used a selection of silk fabrics including french silk, cotton / silk mix, bamboo silk, habotai silk, silk muslin. Each sample was mounted onto a wooden frame [old picture frames] secured with masking tape. Jaquard Silk Colours in Sapphire Blue [with some turquoise Brusho added to adjust the colour] and Apricot. Fabric dampened and silk paint added with bubble wrap and natural sponge. Salt crystals sprinkled. The colours continued to spread and blend beautifully together until they dried whilst the salt crystals dispersed the colours in serendipitous ways across the blended colorways. Fascinating!
And salt crystals:
4.6 Painting transfer adhesive:
This exercise involved experimenting with different ways of adding colour to transfer adhesive including oil pastels, Markel oil sticks, Inktense sticks, paints acrylic paints and Brusho paints.
This in turn is then transferred by heat onto a plain coloured background fabric
As numbered: 1. Brusho paints 2. Acrylic paints and brush 3. Acrylic and bubble wrap 4. silk paints 5. diluted acrylics 6. Markel oil stick frottage 7. oil stick and Brusho frottage 8. oil pastel and silk paint frottage 9. Markel oil stick and Brusho frottage 10. Markel oil stick and silk paint frottage 11. oil pastel 12. Water and Inktense stick 13. water and Neocolour 14. oil pastel
Most effective - oil pastels and Markel sticks plus combination of these with silk paints. Inktense sticks also vibrant.
4.7 More effects using blue on to an orange background:
And finally:
4.8 A selection of plain coloured fabrics:
silk, velvet, polycottons, rayon, textured synthetic, chiffon and synthetic sheer fabric.
4.9 My selection of threads:
Including space dyed, plain coloured threads of various thicknesses, plain coloured and variegated machine threads
And in the next chapter - stitching into my fabrics! Bring it on..................
