dyeing time

Not what you think. I did spell "dyeing" correctly, as in to change the appearance of something by adding a coloured substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. In this case, natural dyes to various yarns and fabrics (both protein and cellulose).

Since this is the first summer in four years that I won't be ill from medication, the idea was to celebrate by engaging in a number of textile and fibre art pursuits. This seems an appropriate thing to do given that more than one chemo drug cause neurological or topical problems that rendered my hands all but useless for a given period of time. At one point, I couldn't pick up my toothbrush let alone a sewing needle.

I'm especially excited about having enrolled in a short textile arts program at Capilano University. No, this isn't the two-year program I've long dreamed of doing, but a three-week course . Eleanor Hannan is the instructor, and I couldn't be more pleased. Not only do I like Eleanor's work (think of painting with a sewing machine) but one of her pieces hangs on my bedroom wall. The program takes place over three Tues mornings and three Thurs mornings and covers a wide range of techniques. Not sure what all we'll be doing, but will report the results of my efforts provided nothing goes up in flame in the process.

In the meantime, some patient friends from my local weaving/spinning guild are kindly giving me a bit of a refresher in natural dyeing. Penny, Lynda and I had a great time tossing all manner of coloured water and pulp (for making paper) around Anne's house last week.

Alkanet dye bath just after  BFL locks, wool yarn, and cotton and linen fabric were added.

Osage orange dye bath following addition of BFL locks, wool yarn, cotton yarn, and linen fabric.

Drying out are (left to right): cotton in fustic, a snow-white linen jacket over dyed with cutch, mohair dyed with lichen and rusty nails, wool yarn in fustic, wool yarn in cutch, wool yarn in (oops, can't remember the dye for this one) , and various skeins of wool, mohair, and cotton as well as a linen napkin dyed with lac. All fibre had been scoured and mordanted prior to dyeing. Alum was used to mordant everything, but myrobalan was also applied to the cellulose fibre.

Another shot of the yarns at the right of the above photo.

Other things were dyed with madder, logwood, alkanet, and osage orange but weren't photographed - guess we all got caught up in the process. The next day, Penny and I also did a small batch of brazilwood.

Will post more photos as future projects are undertaken.