progress is slow
July 24, 2014
exhausting the dye pots
just for fun – previously dyed
onion skins and then lac – topped dyed with indigo
indigo top dyed with madder/cochineal
the next step – first with onion skins – day glow yellow
cooled down with the madder/cochineal
think they can still be seen in the dark!
natural dyes on silk – trying to stretch out the small quantities of colour
the woven shibori is slow
winding two threads from a single ball is even slower, tedious and frustrating
it is a wonderful summer for hollyhocks
freezing the flowers to dye with
everything takes time.
14 Comments
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Orange knickers are definitely the hit! How lightfast is the hollyhock color? (I also have some hollyhocks blooming right now)
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Alfia – the hollyhocks need more testing, they seem to be lightfast, I have only used the dark purple and only used frozen flowers- India Flint’s theory of ice flower dyes.
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Thanks, Jean!
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Alfia – if you give it a try let me know the results.
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yes, I will!
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Glow in the dark undies — now THAT’s an idea. Would save that one for the long winter nights.
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Alice – the Japanese are experimenting with producing “glow in the dark” silk. we could weave undies – and they would be warm, too!
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I hate the sound of an unsolvable weaving problem! I hope it works out. Your hollyhocks are beautiful colors–will the dye be those colors, too?
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Kerry -still not sure what has caused the weaving problem or how to fix it. the hollyhocks should dye a soft purple-y grey.
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Ha! I knew I wasn’t the only one who dyes her panties. LOL!!
Tell you what – you come over here and weave off my Warp From H^%& and I’ll come over there and wind your cotton for you. What do you think? Too bad there’s an expensive ferry in the middle though, huh?
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oh Louisa – I’d almost take you up on it, ferry and all BUT this afternoon the weaving developed a insolvable problem – think I’m going to have to cut it off, tie on again and start over. I’m sulking for the time being!!!
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Naturally dyed panties is something I haven’t seen before! Your knitting is looking beautiful. I’ve unraveled fine sweaters where there was two threads held as one and meticulously separated them by making two piles first, and then winding one pile at a time onto bobbins. This is tedious, too, and frustrating if a tangle happens, but usually, if the pile isn’t disturbed, it will wind on neatly. Haven’t come up with anything better with two hands and one winder 😛
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Kristin – I’m winding 60/2 cotton that has been wound together and need enough for 14 yards – no way is will it work by separating it into piles. the panties are great fun.
Velma – ha, ha!
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thinking of that old song- time is on our side. nice doings.
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