I’ve been playing with string and rubber bands lately, tying up some fabric. It’s been a lot of fun and I thought I’d show you my results.
I started with some pieces of white fabric and tied them up. You can find lots of different tie patterns online. Just google tie dye patterns.
Then I soaked them in soda ash water for about an hour – longer than normal because of all of the folds. I wanted to make sure the soda ash penetrated the whole fabric.
Then I mixed up my fiber reactive dyes. I’m using a palette that reminds me of the Southwest which includes orange, light green, light blue, and light and dark purple.
I used pipettes to drop the dye on the fabric.
Then I put them out in the sun to dry.
Twenty-four hours later I rinsed, washed, dried, and ironed the fabric. I tried different folds and changed the order of the dye colors to see which I liked better. Here are my results.
Another picture of the complete set.
Do you have a favorite? How would you use this fabric?
Outstanding fabrics and dye technique. I would absolutely find a way to include all of these in one large piece and enjoy some great summer days hand quilting – using the designs that your folding created as the inspiration. Well done!
Bethany in Kingston ON Canada
Bethany Garner recently posted..PENNY BERENS brings our FIBREWORKS students four amazing days of design and discharge play….
Lynda, they are all gorgeous! I love the colors you used, and I imagine drying them in the sun gave them the soft blend… very lovely! I would use them in a sampler quilt. I have done that before, with solid color borders to emphasize the tie-dyed pieces. I can’t wait to see what you do with yours!
Bethany, Thank you! I do like the idea of using them in one big piece. Thanks.
Judy, Thanks. Yeah, come to think about it the first two pieces are darker and they were not in the sun very long the day I dyed them vs the other ones. I do want to do something with them. I like the idea of solid color borders. Thanks again.
Love your tie dying. Fun to watch. What a technique you have and love this effect. Gorgeous. Would love to do a very large piece to quilt.
Hi Donna, It was so much fun and I do believe these are my favorite colors – at least right now! Thanks.
This is so beautiful! I love the colors and patterns!
Kimberly Jones recently posted..Junque Bloom Tutorial
Hi Kim, Thanks so much! It was so much fun and they are probably my favorite colors right now.
What fun – love them all.
Gerrie,
Thanks.
I haven’t done that it ages! We used to tie dye tshirts as children. Yours are much lovelier in result than ours were.
Rinda
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Lynda,
Are you doing the 103 course with Candied Fabrics? If so, were you inspired by her methods? In the past I’ve always been more serendipitous about my dyeing and the outcome. For the past month I’ve gotten into a more intentional way of dyeing. I just finished out an experiment on 10″ squares, using a different color coming in from each corner on a diagonally pleated piece. I wanted to see how each of the two colors would react when they “hit” shared ground. I have 36 examples, I can identify which colors were used on each piece AND I have finally found out a starting place for achieving some gorgeous browns, something that has eluded me for two years. Anyway, I want to thank you for the Intentional Printing book, and let you know that it has also given me a new direction with my dyeing.
I wish I lived closer, maybe when I go back to the Midwest in Sept we could have a cup of tea?
Luann Fischer
Luann, Yes, Candy’s 103 class has really inspired me and encouraged me to be more intentional in my dyeing (along with Lynn’s book). I also wanted to see how the colors looked when they hit so I moved them around on each piece. I sure do see my favorites. I’d love to see what you are doing. 36 examples? Oh, my!! I am so impressed. Have you signed into the Flickr group? Seems like I’m the only one sharing there lately. Sounds like you are really stretching a lot. I wished we lived closer too. Yes, let me know when you’re nearby – I’m in Newburgh near Evansville at the bottom of the state – and we can meet halfway and have lunch.
These are so beautiful. I love the colors you used and the way you used them.
Connie, Thanks!
I love the one that looks like a giant dandelion puff. Judy
Judy, Thanks! Never thought about a dandelion puff!!
Rinda, Thank you. I also tie dyed shirts many a moon ago but we used bright primary colors. I like these much better – just an updated look. Thanks for dropping by.
Really beautiful!
Halle, Thank you!!
Very interesting pieces and lovely too. I am always searching the net for dye techniques to inspire my creations. thank you for blogging about it.
laceflower, Thank you and thanks for dropping by.
I like to know more about this kind of
painting
Betty, This is dyeing with fiber reactive dyes. Instead of regular dyeing, you fold and rubber band or clamp to get different patterns. You can find lots of patterns by searching fo tie dyeing techniques. I also have another post you might be interested in where I use folding and clamping. https://lyndaheines.blog/2014/07/folding-and-clamping-itajime/ Hope that helps. Thanks for dropping by.