Follow me as I weave along the way
Over the weekend I attended a Dye Day at the Contemporary Handweavers of Houston, Guild House. You bring your prepared yarns in skein form or pre-warped segments for dyeing. An assortment of stock dye colors are premixed for our use. These stock colors can than be mixed to create a wide spectrum of colors. Syringes... Continue Reading →
I"m a little late with posting about the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas 2013 Conference which took place May 30- June 2. The conference is something I always look forward to. The opportunity to learn new weaving techniques, the fellowship of being around other weavers, and the chance to shop for new yarns in the vendor... Continue Reading →
This is Handwoven Shibori being woven on a floor loom. The weaving is fairly easy, plain weave with a pattern thread every 6 ends. The pattern threads form a fancy twill pattern. I don't use nylon fish line for my pattern threads which will later be pulled gathering the fabric. I use a 3/2 mercerized cotton... Continue Reading →
Today's adventure involved natural hand dyeing by myself. Previously my dye days were with a group of other weavers led by another fiber artist. On the last dye day, I came home with a gallon jug each of Brazilwood and Logwood dye baths that were not spent. Also, a baggy for each, with the wood junks... Continue Reading →
Indigo, Logwood, Brazilwood, Osage Orange, Peach, Lichen, Cochineal, Achiote, Onion skins, Henna, Golden Rod and Madder were all used to make Natural Dye baths. Cheryl, a member of our WOW study group hosted a natural dye day at her home. From her days in Louisiana working at a plantation hosting Natural dyeing and weaving activities,... Continue Reading →
I love to experiment, probably has something to do with working in chemical labs early in my career. My newest adventure uses black rayon in both the warp and weft of a Handwoven Shibori piece. Instead of applying dyes to the piece after pulling the pattern threads, I bleached the fabric. It's important to dilute... Continue Reading →
Barb-e Designs 