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!!!

 

SILK PAPER and SILK RODS WORKSHOP

The latest workshop at Silk-n-Threads was lead by Margaret Steeden and involved members using silk hankies and silk rods. Both these are by products of the silk industry.
Silk hankies are produced from silk cocoons and Margaret showed us how, by soaking the cocoons and then pulling out the fibres to fit around a frame. Weavers then spin yarn from these hankies but we used then to make silk paper. We layered several thin hankies, sometimes trapping fibres and other elements eg dried leaves and seed heads. Using dilute PVA as an adhesive allowed us to produce a useable 'paper' that we then made handmade books and needle cases from. Margaret also uses these new fabrics as the basis for  Free Machine Embroidery.

This is the result when you use several different coloured hankies. This example has pieces of blue lace trapped inside it. They have attractive edges and we used these to effect as can be seen in the pictures of needlecases produced

The pink example has lace trapped inside the layers of paper, it was then embellished with hand stitching.

These are examples of members books and needle cases the top and bottom ones are silk paper and the two outside ones are from silk rods.

For some reason Blogger has uploaded these pictures upside down!!!

These are the hearts produced by separating silk rods and bondawebbing them to felt from which hearts were cut, decorated and stitched. The decoration ranged form lace, buttons, embroidery, ribbons and 3D butterflies. Some of the members utilised their card making skills.

These brooches are made from the leftover pieces of the silk rods and the silk paper

Christmas Party 2011

On Friday the 25th November 2011 20 members of Silk-n-Threads arrived at St Martins school hall to enjoy an evening of festive merriment. We had a Secret Santa, our usual Christmas Tree decoration competition and a shared table supper. Thanks to Anne Worsnup who is in hospital at the moment for her organising of the event as regards catering and decoration. Get well soon Annne. Thanks also to Beryl Wood for stepping in at the last minute to cover for Anne as well as all the behind the scenes work that she does.

As usual we had a great time and it was a early start to the festive season for us all.
The tree decorations this year were based around silk cocoons that members painted and then decorated. What an array of creative ideas considering that everybody was very concerned that they couldn't DO anything with white cocoons. All in all a very inventive collection of decorations.

Third prize went to, on the left, Muriel Draper. Second prize to, on the right, Annette Anderson (this years Chair) and first place to Margaret Steeden centre.

For some reason blogger has uploaded this image sidewards, I've tried several times to no avail. The places were as follows, top was third, middle was second and bottom was first.

Can all at Silk-n-Threads wish all those who visit our blog a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

First meeting next year is the 9th January 2012.

AUTUMN EXHIBITION

THESE PHOTOS SHOW THE FINISHED RESULT OF OUR BUSY MORNING OF HANGING THE 2011 MARPLE EXHIBITION.

 The cabinet is full of 3D items that members have been busy making over the past 12 months. some have been inspired by the Monday workshops led by members throughout the year. Silk Collage books, Tyvek jewellery, silk covered boxes and painted ties are amongst the goodies.

 We had a warm day to hang the exhibition and we are very pleased with the result. The overall surface area allowed this year was much smaller than in p[revious years but we quite like the 'busy overall' effect. Some of the scarves for sale are shown on the left in the above pic.

This pic shows the second wall and the tables of cards and more scarves, 2 of which sold before we had finished hanging!! All the works contain some silk, most of which are painted but there is also some textile mixed media on show with silk as a part.

February Workshop

February's workshop found members creating fabric boxes and stamping on fabric. Beryl Wood our chair has a wealth of experience in card making and related crafts so she was the ideal person to demonstrate to members.

Members made three different dimensions of boxes and decorated them in a variety of ways.

The cards at the back of this image were all stamps on silk backgrounds, an ideal way to use up all that silk from painting that didn't work!!!!!!!!!