I don't dye, so I don't know : do plant dyes make cloth softer? Does it depend on the type of plant? Cloth? Color? Touch is such an important element for me. Vital, really. Tonight I invested several minutes petting the hand stitching I did through 3 layers of commercial woven cloth. It's quite soothing, really. Lets my mind go sit on a park bench.. Do you set out to incorporate a certain tactile texture in your works or do you focus on other elements and notice the tactility when you step back to look at the finished piece?
While I don't think that the plants make the fabrics any softer, the process of natural dyeing does involve cooking the fabric - which is quite a thing. If you were cooked, I think you'd come out of that process a little softer rather than harder.
In regard to touch - it is the most important thing for me. I consider it right from the get go when I design. I think that touch is the mother of the senses.
The reason I am talking about kittens here and stroking the fabric is because it is silk-rayon velvet which is extremely soft. This fabric is what I use for the reverse applique dots so often, because it's such a tactile pleasure...and takes any kind of dye, chemical or natural, really well.
Have you always been keen on dying your own, or is that something that evolved - perhaps as a way to challenge, as a continuing learning avenue?
And, okay. here's a Very Basic Question (my face is red just thinking about it): How do you know the different types of fabrics? In a later post, you mention harem cloth, I think it is. Velvet, i know. Organza, I know. Wool, damask, brocade - these I know. You taught me cotton lawn when I asked for a recommendation on a near-sheer backing cloth for In Our Own Language 1. When sewing as a teen (yes, I was One Of Those Girls Who Made Her Own Clothes), I joined a fabric of the month club because we lived (then as now) in such a remote area. Shoot, we had to travel 30-45 minutes to get grocerys. (Still do.) I had no way to learn, and internet didn't exist. So I've always wondered how to learn one fabric from another?
the internet has really helped my personal education in regard to threads and fabrics. I found out about harem cloth from Jude Hill - who uses it as backing for many of her small story cloths.
I read about threads like coton a broder - just to name one - and think what the heck is that? But the internet will tell me, and it will send some to me.
My mother belonged to a fabric club from Europe for a year when I was a teen - she did it for me as much as for her. I looked at all those fabrics and petted all the swatches - learned so much then. What was gabardine? What was twill? What was organza? I found out by touch. xx Touch and time my friend.
I don't dye, so I don't know : do plant dyes make cloth softer? Does it depend on the type of plant? Cloth? Color? Touch is such an important element for me. Vital, really. Tonight I invested several minutes petting the hand stitching I did through 3 layers of commercial woven cloth. It's quite soothing, really. Lets my mind go sit on a park bench.. Do you set out to incorporate a certain tactile texture in your works or do you focus on other elements and notice the tactility when you step back to look at the finished piece?
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't think that the plants make the fabrics any softer, the process of natural dyeing does involve cooking the fabric - which is quite a thing. If you were cooked, I think you'd come out of that process a little softer rather than harder.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to touch - it is the most important thing for me. I consider it right from the get go when I design. I think that touch is the mother of the senses.
The reason I am talking about kittens here and stroking the fabric is because it is silk-rayon velvet which is extremely soft. This fabric is what I use for the reverse applique dots so often, because it's such a tactile pleasure...and takes any kind of dye, chemical or natural, really well.
Have you always been keen on dying your own, or is that something that evolved - perhaps as a way to challenge, as a continuing learning avenue?
DeleteAnd, okay. here's a Very Basic Question (my face is red just thinking about it): How do you know the different types of fabrics? In a later post, you mention harem cloth, I think it is. Velvet, i know. Organza, I know. Wool, damask, brocade - these I know. You taught me cotton lawn when I asked for a recommendation on a near-sheer backing cloth for In Our Own Language 1. When sewing as a teen (yes, I was One Of Those Girls Who Made Her Own Clothes), I joined a fabric of the month club because we lived (then as now) in such a remote area. Shoot, we had to travel 30-45 minutes to get grocerys. (Still do.) I had no way to learn, and internet didn't exist. So I've always wondered how to learn one fabric from another?
the internet has really helped my personal education in regard to threads and fabrics. I found out about harem cloth from Jude Hill - who uses it as backing for many of her small story cloths.
DeleteI read about threads like coton a broder - just to name one - and think what the heck is that? But the internet will tell me, and it will send some to me.
My mother belonged to a fabric club from Europe for a year when I was a teen - she did it for me as much as for her. I looked at all those fabrics and petted all the swatches - learned so much then. What was gabardine? What was twill? What was organza? I found out by touch.
xx
Touch and time my friend.