Skip to main content

a new project :)


Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know one of my goals for 2014 was to finish two projects for every one I started. But that was six months ago. 
 
Every month one of the quilt shops in Raleigh has a block of the month class (you pay for the first month, then bring your completed block in to the store and attend a 15-20 minute lecture on how to piece the next month's block for free, of $5 if you don't finish your block), followed by a guild-like group ($3.50 a month) where you learn a new quilting technique or about a new gadget and have show and tell of whatever projects you're working (except my group seldom has a lot to to show). This month's Bernina Club demonstrated a way to "dye" fabric using fresh plants, fabric, tape, and a hammer. I wasn't expecting to be overly impressed as fabric dying is NOT my thing, and I came away with my mind whirling and a multitude of project ideas.
 
Step one: Choose your leaf, flower, or grass. (Check out the internet on this, as different cholorophyll colors last and dye differently, and I found tree leaves don't pound out too well and tomato leaves have TOO much chlorophyll.) Here I'm using a sprig from our pecan tree on fabric prepared for dying (but you can use any fabric, but will need to "set" it with a white vinegar/water solution).
 

 
 
Tape the leaf flat onto the fabric with masking tape, covering every part.
(I didn't ask, but I think this helps hold the chlorphyll (aka plant blood) in place on the fabric.)
 
Flip the fabric over. You should be able to see the plant/tape through the fabric. Put it on a cutting board, or other flat, hard surface.
 
 Begin pounding with a hammer (mallets don't work well). As you crush the plant, the chlorophyll seeps into the fabric (our instructor has also used watercolor paper), essentially dying it.


Once finished, tear the tape/plant residue off. Allow to dry in a dark place. (Sunlight makes the color fade). 

I've not researched this to see whether or not fabric prepared for dying still needs to be "set" or not, but I do have a few blocks of plants that grow around our house finished. We did get to see samples of fabric that had been placed in water (city, well, and bottled) solutions to help them set, and were shocked at the differences from the original to the "set" versions. Bottled water faded/removed the color the worst. Well water did the best...go figure!  Our instructor recommended dry cleaning any products (pillows, quilts) unless we wanted a dull brown that slowly washed out of the finished product.

Regardless of whether this is a fabric or paper item, I think it's a very cool craft idea!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

things we do for love

Saturday we had a baby shower for Bobby's niece. As I was making the mints, Bobby asked what else was on the menu. After I recited off the litany of items, he responded with "No peanut butter?! This shower is for Hannah! What's she going to eat?" (Hannah has had stomach problems over the years and has been unable to tolerate many foods, but peanut butter has been her staple.) Despite my assurances that she would enjoy the foods we were having, he was adamant that I needed to make peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for the shower. Even though I protested that NOBODY took that to a shower, he persisted, and informed me I could make them dainty with my little cutter. And so I did. To my surprise all but 3 were eaten. Who'd a thunk it?
9 comments
Read more

perspectives

A few years ago after a Bible study a lot of the group continued to sit and talk and simply relax. One of the ladies felt like she was being mistreated by her boss. She was always given extra tasks or asked to assume responsibilities that no one else was asked to do. She felt it was unfair. As she was listing off some of the extras (she worked in a cafe for a plant), I was in flashback mode. My last year of college I was a shift manager at a fast food place. One of my many duties was to ensure that certain cleaning jobs (extra duties) was assigned and done properly. We were inspected by company headquarters once a quarter, and 3 of their 4 visits was ALWAYS a surprise visit. When I handed out those extra assignments, I had three things in mind: Who will do this job without making a bigger mess? Who can quickly do this job so we don't impede serving customers? Who will do this without the most drama? In essence, I wanted the best person for the job. Use the teenager who griped and c...
Post a Comment
Read more

fun...funny houses

 We saw the above house in Pittsboro while on our way to the mountains. It was the strangest house I've ever seen. Evidently this isn't a modification, for Bobby remembers thinking it funny as a child. Evidently a governor lived here at one point. I think the sign said it's now a Masonic lodge. And if seeing one funny house wasn't enough, the latest issue of This Old House had a link to their website that had several galleries of funny (or strange houses). Here's my favorites from their collection:   Szymbark , Poland  This just makes me laugh, and I would love to visit this house in person. Created by a designer who wanted to demonstrate "wrong-doings against humanity".  Visitors have stood in line for as long as 6 hours to tour the house, and many come out feeling "sea-sick".     Kalambaka, Greece... This 1,000 foot cliff drop has housed monastaries since the 11th century. Six of them are open to the public, " assuming, of course, th...
1 comment
Read more