Newest Hand Dyed Quilt

This is the 5th quilt I have pieced from the fabrics I have dyed this season.


I am finding the fabrics all play well together, but they aren't matchy matchy.

As I worked with the fabrics, some left from previous work, it developed into a piece I am quite pleased with.


This image reminded me of an Umbrella tree so I cut it to isolate it from the larger piece of fabric. The larger piece was originally a dye rag.

You might think I started with this image, but I actually started composing this from the lower edge. Many parts of it were dictated by the size of the pieces of each fabric I had. Of course I had to make it into a cohesive and attractive creation.
This piece just seems to be made for a puzzle!

Oh, Pretty Dye Rags - No It's Art Fabrics

These two before fabrics created "walls" on the edges of a piece of fabric I was dyeing on a sheet of plastic. They prevented the dye from running off the edges of the fabric and plastic and all over the table and down to the floor. I also got some great dye rags from this process.


BEFORE


AFTER

I am so pleased with this piece I am considering using it as a whole cloth quilt.
Much of the coloration and patterning from the dye rag is still evident.


BEFORE


AFTER

On this piece I lost a lot of the definition from the dye rag. I believe it is because I shibori dyed it with a very strong black concentration. I am quite sure I will be cutting this up and using sections of it in some of my future compositions.

There is no way to really predict exactly what is going to happen when you work this way, so you have to be willing to go with the flow and possibly learn a little from it.

I do keep records of the amounts of dyes I use, but it can also be affected by what else is in the bucket with it and also the fabric you are using.

Creating ART Fabric From Dye Rags

Using a dye rag to create art is quite different than intentionally underdying or underpainting cloth to create finished art.

When working with dyes even the most careful dyer has spill to wipe up. It you use fabric instead of wasting paper towels you will have the beginning of some wonderful finished art cloth.

I often soda soak the fabric to keep the spills from washing out and continue to use the cloth until I feel it is ripe for overdyeing, or possibly even use it as is.


I loved the serendipitous patterns created on this dye rag.


I trimmed this part to fit in a frame. When I started dyeing fabrics this year I decided to over dye it since it had not been treated with soda ash. I created three finished pieces from the original dye rag.


This section was my favorite. I knew I wouldn't be able to save it as it was, so I did a shibori overdye on it and while I lost something I also gained something.


It is not particularly evident which section of the original fabric this came from, but it is a wonderful piece of fabric that I will use in a composition.


Here we see more subtle background patterning. It will also make a great addition to something I create.



This is the most subtle shibori overdye, while keeping the strongest original image. I have already found the place I think I will use this.

Maybe if you study these further you will be able to determine which section of the original dye rag they came from.

I'm sharing a challenging puzzle with you today. I hope you enjoy it and get some brain exercise!