INDIGO DYEING and HAVE A GO DAY

 

In mid August we had an afternoon of dyeing! Sandy organised us the week before and we tied and folded and twisted fabric ready for the indigo dye bath.

 

 

 

Here Louise, Kath, Sandy and Chris are busy untying their fabric and leaving it on the clothes rack to dry.

a selection of drying scarves and fabric pieces.

Jean untying her linen that she made into a stunning jacket, see below

 

Jean's asymmerical jacket is topped stitched in white and looks stunning with her white linen trousers.

This square scarf was originally a failed russet attempt and has been revitalised by tying with string and dipping in the indigo vat.

This picture shows a variety of fabrics and tying techniques, the very dark strips are cotton lace.

This silk georgette scarf was folded and wrapped around a pole to create this stunning effect.

Three revitalised scarves the two outside ones have been clamped using square cutouts to create these patterns.

 

The programme for the coming year starting September includes a series of dyeing sessions where we will use a full range of dyes and techniques including, Procion, Disperse, Acid, space dyeing, ice dyeing and more indigo.

 

We are currently getting ready for our HAVE A GO Day on the 15th September when we are OPEN for the general public to visit us and try out some of the activities that we get upto on a MONDAY afternoon.

 

IF YOU LIVE NEAR TO MARPLE, STOCKPORT DO COME AND VISIT US AT ST MARTINS CHURCH HALL, SK6 5DT

 

BETWEEN 10am AND 4pm.

 

YOU CAN HAVE A GO AT silk card making, silk flowers, silk painting,

YOU WATCH microwave scarf making, using by products of the silk industry, silk painting

YOU CAN enjoy homemade cakes and a cuppa

YOU CAN VIEW our exhibition of all things silk

YOU CAN BUY silk products that members have created.

 

The last one we held two years ago was a great success and we gained many new members, most of whom are still with us!!!

 

JUNE WORKSHOP - INDIGO DYEING WITH SHIBORI

Our June workshop was awaited by many with great excitement. Ruth Brown of Stone Creek Silk arrived despite the wet weather over in Yorkshire to demonstrate indigo dyeing with shibori techniques. Above is one of Ruth's striking indigo pieces. Click on Ruth's website above to see more of her work.

We made up a vat of indigo dye and then proceeded to prepare our fabrics, silk and cotton, by sewing, tieing and clamping. This photo shows a piece of cotton being prepared with strong synthetic thread.

Maggie and Muriel with their hands in the indigo vat. The fabric had to be held under the surface for 5 minutes. We had to be careful not to disturb the surface which would have added oxygen to the vat thereby reducing the dyeing qualities of the dye.
Note the green tinge of the fabric this is the colour the fabric is when first removed from the vat. Only when it is oxygenated in the air does it turn to blue.

Out to dry, in the afternoon we tried a range of larger samples, amongst them scarves that were clamped and wrapped around poles shibori style.

A hand stitched row of leaves although some of the group thought that they would make good fish. Belinda who completed them was very pleased with the result.

Annette clamped this scarf to get this striking effect.

This is a napkin that Denise sewed in a spiral resulting in this effective end result.

Maggie used a predyed scarf that she folded into a cone before knotting it several times.
Joy tied this chiffon scarf and this delicate pattern was achieved.

A bold pattern achieved by Pauline by tieing large marbles with string.

Beryl's butterfly was achieved by sewing the shape on to cotton, she intends highlighting the features with embroidery.

After rinsing and ironing the special effects achieved by indigo dyeing is obvious. The lack of flat colour, that is present with other dyeing methods, is the attraction of this method.This was a piece of silk satin and again the lack of flat colour creates a unique effect.

MEMBERS GALLERY 1 - DENISE HOPPER

Denise is the Treasurer of Silk-n-Threads and an active member sharing her expertise by regularly leading members' workshops.
This photograph was taken at the 2005 Harrogate exhibition when she was manning the stall of the Guild of Silk Painters.

Denise qualified as a teacher of Art and Design in 1967 at Bingley College, Leeds University. After teaching in London she became Head of Art and Design in a large comprehensive school in the Midlands. In 1989 she moved to Stockport and developed textile design in the Art Department at Marple Hall School.
She now concentrates on silk painting using dyes and threads to produce evening bags, scarves, ties, cushions and mirror frames, as well as pictures. Her work has been influenced by travels in Asia, especially Indonesia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and India. Previous exhibitions of her work have been held at Quarry Bank Mill, Styal; Stockport Hat Museum; Staircase House in Stockport; Bramall Hall; Buxton Visitors Centre, Bollington Art Centre and Stockport Art Gallery. Denise is an active member of the International Guild of Silk Painters and Silk-n-Threads.
Her most recent work has been a collection of individually designed textile necklaces.

EXAMPLES OF DENISE'S SILK PAINTINGS

Denise uses steam fix dyes for her paintings as she believes they give the most vibrant effects. She does not use gutta (resist) in her paintings, instead using the movement and properties of the dye to create the effects.

Remember to click on each picture to enlarge and appreciate fully the vibrancy and effect.

EXAMPLES OF DENISE'S SILK SCARVES.

All of the scarves below are 100% silk, and have been dyed using steam fix dyes as they give the most vibrant colour.

Denise sells her scarves through various local outlets such as the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester

Remember to click on each picture to appreciate the vibrant colours and effects that silk painting can achieve.

The four modelled scarves have been folded and then clamped before being dipped in dye, resulting in their patterned effect.

These two scarves have been folded and wrapped around a pole shibori style resulting in these stunning patterns.

The remaining scarves have been stretched on a frame and then the design painted on. Salt has been added before the dye dries creating the effect of movement.