Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Earth Day dyeing



My husband bought me this beautiful pot of flowers, filled with purple/blue blossoms. I love their cute little purple centers, (the picture doesn't quite show the true color).



For my own Earth Day "party" I clipped off flowers, laid them on some wet pre mordanted  wool,



rolled them up tightly, put it in a plastic bag and placed them into the freezer.

India Flint www.prophet-of-bloom.blogspot.com, recommends with purple/blue flowers that they be frozen first, then dyeing the cloth with the juice. I'm trying to print the flower design on the fabric, I left them in the freezer for about a week, now their out and under heavy books, I'll repeat the process a few more times. Hopefully in the end I'll have fun purple print fabrics.



I also rolled some up in pre mordant raw silk.
In a few weeks we'll see the results.



At night I've been hand- quilting on my wool,



two years ago I dye printed these little dandelion flowers,
It's almost time for them to be blooming in my yard.

6 comments:

Peggy said...

Oh Kathy, it's going to be beautiful, I just know it. And the dandelion blossoms, I think I'd seen them before, but had forgotten? Love those sweet impressions, I want to do something with dandelion in the dye-pot, too. You inspire me! xo

Kathy -MIQuilter said...

I died the wool a couple of years ago with our beautiful dandelion crop in our lawn, but just begun to quilt them. I don't know if the quilting makes them like flowers or suns!

Nanette said...

Can't wait to see your purple flower prints...they are cineraria I think. Did you make the dandelion prints the same way, by keeping them in the freezer.....oh I guess I could go back and find the post:) It's a pretty cloth with your stitching added.

Nanette said...

I found it! 2nd may 2012, so much inspiration on that post Kathy...I kept thinking 'oh, I have that and that in my garden to try'. Beautiful prints on your fabric, and I love that I could jump forward 2 years and see the results with your stitching.

Kathy -MIQuilter said...

Hi Peggy and Nanette, This is the first time I tried freezer dyeing. I dye printed the dandelions by rolling them up in wet pre mordanted wool, steaming them an hour, then placing them in a plastic bag and setting heavy books on top for about a week, watching carefully for mold. I wash all my fabric when finished to make sure the dye will hold before using it in a quilt.
The dandelions are just popping out, I can feel them calling me!

Deb Hardman said...

We are having an early spring this year. Ive been thinking of you & wishing I could have a play day with you. I wore my scarf today that you dyed with the eucalyptus.I tryed some mulling spices on raw silk a couple of weeks ago. the fabric was pretty unimpressive. Grey dots. Meh!

  • Deb Hardman
  • Allie Aller
  • Jenny Bowker Cairo
  •