Textile News 16

Satin Stitched Kiwi

Denise has sent us a photo of a kiwi fruit that looks good enough to eat! I think it looks wonderful. Her satin stitch is smooth and the black beads add the final touch.

Thank you Denise for such a delightful piece.

Indigo Dyeing

Sandra said she had great fum yesterday. It was too hot to weed after about 10 o'clock so she decided it was a good day for indigo dyeing!

She bought the kit last year but you need a temperature of about 25 to 28 degrees C for the best results and yesterday was perfect.

She used white cotton and some dyed cotton that she wanted to over-dye.

Below you can see the cotton soaking in water and then folded and held in place with elastic bands and pegs.

It was then put in the indigo vat and moved around for a few minutes.

Then it was taken out and left in the air for the oxidation process to take place and turn the fabric blue.

When the fabric is first taken out it is a yellowy-green colour but on

contact with oxygen changes to blue.

It was then rinsed and hung on the line.

It dried quickly and was then ironed to reveal the patterns.

Some of her favourite patterns are below.

The over-dyeing was done in the same way.

Sandra says she loves the way you just get glimmers of bright colours shining through the blue. She says it was great fun and now she has to decide what to do with the dyed pieces.

Thanks Sandra