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Friday, February 09, 2007

Hand Dyes



Yesterday I took a bit of a break from FMQ and made some hand dyes. I like the red one the best, especially the top area. I think the blue, yellow and red one would be better if I had used a lighter red . Still, it will come in useful for something. The blue is more subdued but has a nice mottled pattern on it. Part of the success comes from the fabric I used. It is a ready-to-dye cotton that I got when we stopped at Dharma Trading on our trip last spring. Unfortunately, I only got a few yards. Next time we go through that area, if there is a next time, I hope I can afford a whole bolt. Cotton is much cheaper in USA than up here in Canada.
Today I finished the trees on the jungle quilt and for a bit of a break did some quilting on the cityscape. I am just quilting in the ditch on that one. I'm not sure what I will do about the sky though. It is a fairly large area so I will have to do some quilting on it. If it were a clear night I'd do some stars but that wouldn't go with the stormy skies. I may try to outline a cloud pattern if I can see one in the mottle of the fabric. If not it may be back to my old standby of meandering.

11 comments:

meggie said...

Those dyed fabrics look lovely. I love the effects you can get.
It must be a bit like having a baby- you never know what you will get!LOL.
I would appreciate some of you cold. I just about explode -feel like my brain is on simmer/boil when it is so humid!

quiltpixie said...

I love the blue -- so subtle as long as the colour works it'd go with so many things...

ForestJane said...

Looks great! I've done some hand dye, and actually tend to use fabrics like the blue first... but then, I'm a big fan of tone on tones too.

The stuff that looks like rainbows I like when I'm doing it, but somehow, the fabric just sits. I usually go to my stash looking for a specific color, and pull what I'm needing at the moment.

Cynthia said...

i love the hand dyed fabrics. I have some that i bought at a local Craft Show about three years ago and still haven't used them. I was actually looking at them this morning. One of them i have is like your multi colored one. Do you have any suggestions as to what blocks or whatever you could do with it? I haven't a clue and that's probably why it's still sitting in my cupboard.

YankeeQuilter said...

What great colors!

Teodo said...

The colours of your hand dyed fabrics are very gorgeus. I would like to dyed and maybe that I will go to prove...It's difficult? ciao ciao

molly said...

Love those hand dyed fabrics....are you quilting your jungle by hand or machine?

molly said...

Love those hand dyed fabrics....are you quilting your jungle by hand or machine?

Lily Mulholland said...

Joyce you're a braver woman than me - no way would I attempt dyeing right now. What a chicken! You did a great job! I like the blue - you're right that it's subdued, but you may find that it's easier to use.

I like the idea of clouds in the sky for your cityscape too.

Lois R. said...

The hand dyes are so pretty. You know that Dharma has an internet store, right? No need to wait to be there to buy!

Judy said...

I love your hand dyes!