Copper and Wool

Copper sequins being auditioned atop some natural dyed wool fabric.  I'm working on a major project, more to come as I'm a week behind due to being ill last week.  Stay tuned for the Big Reveal!

Rust Dyed Wool

Rust dyed wool fabric, love the marks on the bottom piece, it's just begging to be hand stitched!

Rabbitbrush and Sage Dyed Wool

 

Rabbitbrush and sage dyed wool, 2007, in an iron pot.

Dried rabbitbrush from western Nebraska eastern Wyoming area.

Sage in bloom from western Nebraska.

Carcass

Salvaging the Unsalvageable

Rust • Wool • Pigments • Wax

Earth Palette

Taos New Mexico

September 29th & 30th, 2010

Wool Bundles

I'll open the rest of the wool bundles tomorrow, right now they are on the skirting table drying out, they are still soaking wet from Thursday night's rains.  Some of the bundles look more interesting than the others but that doesn't mean that there isn't something wonderful waiting inside.

Wool Bundles

I'm hoping to open my wool bundles tomorrow finally!  It looks like it won't rain tonight fingers crossed, I'm really curious to see what they look like inside.

Five Year Silk Fibers

Originally my wool bundles were in the basket atop the silk fibers, sometime last summer I removed the bundes as the silk fibers were still in prestine condition.  Now the fibers have started to decompose and in a really interesting manner.  The silk cocoons have been dyed with natural dyes.

Five Year Bundles

Bundles of wool fabric that have been outside for approximately 5 years now.

Sewing Rusted Fabrics - The Fabric Rusted Through Now What???

My fabrics have rusted through now what?  Can I still use my fabrics? 

The anwser is yes you can still use your fabrics, with a little help from a quilters best friend iron on stablizer!

A small tid bit of rusted fabric that once lived in the fabric in the preceeding photo.

Heavily rusted areas that glisten, this glistening is due to the iron oxide deposits on the surface of the fibers.

A view of the area I will be working with, complete with a hole that has rusted completely through the surface.

Mistyfuse TM stabilizer, I pressed my top fabric first and then sandwiched the Mistyfuse TM between the top fabric and a piece of soft cotton fabric, as I will be using a wool batting and another backing fabric.  Needling is imporant for this piece hence the reason I chose to use the flannel. Cotton scrim is also suitable for this project.

The stabilizer and backing fabric are now adhered to the front fabric.

Here you can see the stabilzer and the backing fabric peaking through the hole of the rusted fabric, click on photo for larger detail shot.

Full view of the fabric after the backing fabric and stablilzer are put in place, I am now ready to make my quilt sandwich as usual and begin stitching.

Dyeing With Onion Skins

Fall is an excellent time to dye with onion skins as Onions are being harvested now!

Materials List:

Wool
Onion Skins

Alum

Stainless Steel Pot

Water

Heat Source

You will need to mordant your wool with Alum first to ensure that your color is permanent.

Onion Skin Dye Bath

• Take onion skins and place in stainless steel pot, make sure this is a studio dedicated pot, and cover with hot or boiling water.
  
• Allow to sit overnight.


• The next day bring dye pot to a simmer and leave for one hour.


• Remove onion skins if desired - leaving them will create a mottled yarn or fabric.


• Place wet rinsed mordanted wool into dye bath and simmer for two hours.


• If using the cold dyeing method leave wool overnight in the dye bath.


• Remove wool from dye bath, rinse snd dry


• NOTE: wool may have a slight onion smell this is normal with natural dyed goods.
  

Your wool is now ready to use!