Monday, June 27, 2022

Atmospheric Exposion

This quilt started the same way as a couple of previous ones.  I sketched the design based on some quilts that I had seen on Pinterest.  There were color ways that I wanted to try out: pink, red, orange, and black.  So, I also looked up some color studies on Pinterest.  Here are my sketches and color inspirations.


After the sketch was done and colored in, I transferred the main design lines onto 6" muslin squares.  Each square was collaged with material in the color shown on the sketch.  Then, some stringy pieces of fabric were glued on top of the collaged piece.  When all the squares were done, the top was sewn together to form the base.  Here is a picture of the base.

I pulled out some yarn, threads, rick rack, and lace to match the top.  This was cut and dropped on top of the base until it was more or less covered.  A layer of light pink tulle was pinned to the top.  The whole thing was layered with batting and backing, then quilted with several different colors of thread on the long arm.  

My friends suggested a dark gray binding, and they were right.  It stops the eye at the edges.  My friends also suggested the name of the quilt "Atmospheric Explosion", and one of them made a custom embroidered label.  The label is fabulous!

The quilt is 36" x 42".


I hope you like it.



Friday, June 24, 2022

Fabric Dyeing

I did a bit of fabric dyeing earlier this year.  After taking a low water immersion dyeing class last fall, I inherited some fabric dye powder from a couple of friends.  Ever the engineer, I calculated some dye lots on spreadsheets, and set out to dye the PFD fabric that I had in the closet.  I have to say that the dying process is pretty quick and pretty interesting.  But, the rinsing out and washing is a painful long process.  

I didn't have any goal in mind as far as a quilt goes, but just wanted to use up the dye and fabric on hand.  Here are some of my results:













I mixed some colors and in other cases I diluted the dyes to get a range of one color.

Anyway, I hope you have new and exciting experiences too.