Sewing off the edge

 This is our current challenge for our monthly meeting at the EGV. I'm not sure what it means, exactly- but if I have interpreted it correctly, I'm not sure why anyone would bother!

I found an old piece of experimentation that I had done in the past - it was a circle full of fairly heavy free motion sewing. I decided to try that again. 

Unfortunately, two of the pieces I did had fabric tucked under the hoop and I sewed it without noticing! But two others were done more correctly. 

I drew a circle on some cotton - then decided that I could just sew the shape, it doesn't matter if it is not an exact circle.

After I cut them off the fabric I then tried sewing off the edge - the only thing that seemed to happen was that the white fabric at the edge got covered - not a bad outcome but I'm nor sure if that was the aim. 

One other thing was that I used the automatic speed and sewing, no use of the foot pedal. When I tried doing it without the automatic aspect the thread kept breaking on the top. 

I left a little bit where I didn't sew over the edge and you can see the white fabric edge. That one didn't have the mistake of folded over fabric on the back! 

What I did notice is that the heavier sewing made the 'flower' more 3D.

I'll know more when I go to our group meeting next Sunday.  

Still experimenting

I had quite a few old chemises that are made of silk so I decided to actually use them! I have kept them because the silk is lovely. 

I also still have some of the hollyhock dye bath left. 

So today I looked up yet another site on how to naturally dye silk and have just done more mordanting of the fabric. I have done it slightly differently because I went to a different site - so many sites with good advice!  Because the chemises had colour I am not sure how things will turn out - but I really don't care!

I'm hoping to collect some more fabrics, not necessarily silk, and dye them and see if they 'speak to me' about how to use them. 

If not, I'll have yet more pieces of dyed silk and other fabrics.

 The leftover flowers that I used have turned into some sort of sludge but I am willing to try one or two pieces of silk to see what happens. I'll try to be more creative with the rest, see if I can make different colours. I still have a LOT of dried and frozen hollyhocks to I am anticipating lots of purples and, possibly, pinks. 

If I do use the sludge, I don't think the dye will be even but that doesn't bother me either. I am just aiming to have fun. 

As I have only prepared silk, I think that I won't get the greens and browns I got with the wool. - they were also old chemises. 

Our garden is being overtaken by oxalis - not a good thing. But I am hoping some may survive (if we don't work our how to actually get rid or it) and I will cut the yellow flowers and try them. I have a faint recollection of using the leaves too but they will only give green, easily obtained from other sources. It would actually be good to get rid of the oxalis, so I may not get to see the beautiful flowers. 

oops again!

 I used some dried hollyhocks to try some more dyeing. 

I have finished the mordanting and the dye baths. But ... I found some dried hollyhock flowers and decided to use them too. 

They have been lying around for weeks. I put them into a pot and used the recently mordanted fabric to see what would eventuate. 

                                 

 

I didn't want to wait for the dye bath so I put some fabric that had been mordanted into the dyebath that still had dried flowers in it. There were quite a lot, so it is now a full pot of flowers and warm water, 

                                  

 I overfilled the pot, so some of the dye bath spilt onto the stove - very promising in terms of colour. 

I then decided that the yellowish fabrics from the leaves of the lilly pilly were rather ordinary and have put in some of the overflow from the hollyhocks. 

The pot is now not simmering and I will check the fabrics in the morning. Hopefully there will be some stronger colours. 

I'm still not sure what I will use the fabric for but I am pleased that I have been experimenting after all this time. 

Oops!

 Seeing that I am just playing around with my dyeing (as usual, not very scientific) I didn't put enough water in with the bundle and it started to burn!! Fortunately someone noticed and turned it off before too much damage was done!

There is a small hole in the silk but I don't actually have anything in mind for using the fabrics so not to worry!

The fabric has a faint pink tone, especially the silk, with mostly brown for the wool - with some small areas of pink. 

As I said, I have no project in mind for the fabric and am, therefore, just experimenting with small pieces. 

I have decided to use the leaves of the lilly pilly. I have cut them up and put them in a pot to do their thing. So far, the water (dye bath) looks clear. 

Later - not much later. I have now put the mordanted fabric into the dye bath (and taken out the leaves to the compost heap). The fabric is looking yellowish, especially the silk. I will let it sit in the pot overnight, as so many sites recommend 

Once more, no idea what I will use the fabric for!

I'm am a roll now, am going to use yet more silk and worn out clothes, this time fawn silk (it was a singlet/camisole), to try using some of  the many leftover, dried hollyhock flowers that are just sitting around. 

The fabric is mordanting and I will let that rest for several hours, then do the dye bath thing. 

Time to take the dog out for a wander. 

Not sure if it is going well.

 Yesterday I picked the lilly pilly berries and have tried them in the pot - for dyeing fabric.

I was a bit disappointed today as the fabric didn't seem to be very different and the water was not showing a lot of colour. 

However, the water that dripped onto the stove had colour!! So I am leaving the berries in the pot, with the fabric, and will look at it again tomorrow- it takes patience to be an artist!

However, I am supposed to see a circle of mordanted fabric in the piece I was given - not obvious so far. 

Tomorrow is another day. 

I have read several sites that say that the leaves can also be used. I haven't had the energy or time to play with the leaves but hope to do so in a couple of days. Hopefully, they will give some colour. I have a collection of small pieces of fabric that are collected for dyeing so will see if they can be used - I will need to remind myself of what they need in terms of mordant but hope that it will not be too complicated. 

I just have to remember what I used to know about mordanting fabrics - I am only trying to use natural fabrics: wool, cotton and silk. Not sure what I will do with them but that is not really important - I am hoping to be inspired to play a bit more. 

Hoping to be inspired!

 I visited the Australian Tapestry Workshop last week. I needed to buy some yarns for an upcoming challenge for our local group. While I was there I had a look at the exhibitions. 

There was one that asked people to take a small piece of fabric, pre-mordanted in a circle. We are asked to find some plant dye from our local postal code, dye the fabric and return it.  Once it is returned it will be cut in half and one part will kept for records and the other will be used in an artwork. 

I have walked along a small laneway recently - while out with the dog. There was a lot of mess on the ground, fallen lilly pills berries. I came home and looked up whether they could be used for dyeing. Apparently so! 

Today I went back and cut down some of the berries overhanging the lane. 

I'm not sure what the mordant used on the fabric is but I thought I might as well give it a go. I will read the instructions again just to be sure that I have read it all properly. 

I have looked up some sites and will give it a go tomorrow- it seems that I shouldn't need a lot of berries so I will possibly have a go with some of the small bits of fabric that I have. First though, I will do the task. 

I'm hoping that it may revive my interest in fabric dyeing and then finding a use for the pieces. 

I also read that the leaves can be used. So I am keeping them and hope to experiment with them soon, 

The Date - again!

 It's been so long since I posted that I almost forgot how to log in!!

Today is 22/4/26. 

I haven't been all that creative recently but am working on a tapestry. It has taken me weeks and is not that big but who cares?? I am doing something. 

The tapestry is, hopefully, for the Bendigo Wool Show later this year. The theme is something about Echoes from the Past (not sure that is it exactly) and I have been visiting Darebin Parklands for many, many years. So I have used a photo of a small bridge over Darebin Creek. It reminds me of the many times I have visited the park - it is at the bottom of my street, not a big excursion. 

                                           

Anyway, I have used a recent photo of the bridge and am trying to come up with a tapestry. There are problems with the interpretation but I am happy to just be weaving again, not that bothered by exactitude.

I have been taking photos when I have actually given it some time - to let me see that I am making progress. 

The photos have come in reverse order - something to do with Google not being able to upload - I am sooo over technology!

I have used a photo but am making up the last bit - I am prone to to that, just make it up. I realised that the cartoon is not accurate so am using the actual photo instead. The big disadvantage of this is that you can't really see the differentiation between areas as clearly. But I have decided not to worry about it - I am not going to provide the image with the finished piece, so no-one will be aware of the differences. I hope.