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Robbi Eklow has a new book out called Free Expression in which she explains and illustrates her pole dyeing method. Today, Diane invited us to her house to try this method.
Here are Diane, Janet and Pat preparing to dye.
Here is some fabric that has had dye poured over it.
Here are some of the dye drippings. I had a bunch of silk scraps given to me by the director of Surface Design – they were left overs from her work. I put these scraps in the drippings and got some of my most interesting pieces!
Now, here is where we went off on a tangent and didn’t follow directions. We just laid the fabrics out on the grass to dry and didn’t let them batch. This is what happens when a group of amateurs ignore the directions!!
And look at this – splatter dyed feet!!
Tomorrow, I will wash my fabric and see how bad it was not to do the batching. I think the colors will not be as intense. It was a fun time and so relaxing. Oh, and here is the best part, we got to meet Gemma who patiently observed the day’s activities.
Pretty! Both the fabric and the feet. 🙂
Gerrie’s right–this was SO much fun! Thanks for posting pics, Gerrie–I should have taken some too but was too lazy to go back upstairs and fetch my camera! A fun time was had by all. And yes, Gerrie was virtuous at lunch and even declined one of Pat’s homemade biscotti (chocolate chip macadamia nut!)
Having done this very act many many times (for sale to the public) I am sure your non batched fabrics will turn out EXACTLY the same, if not better than the ‘waste of time’ batching.
In fact the hotter the day the faster the dye molecules react and produce the optimum results.
Happy spatter toes!
This looks such fun! Can’t wait to see how they turned out.
Hey, I did pole dyeing today also! Wish I could have done it with a group, like you did. I only had enough PFD left over for one stab at it. I got spatter dyed feet also. I think it comes with the twisting part at the end (at least mine did). I love my piece right now, but I’m afraid it will wash out too light tomorrow when I wash it. Wish I could keep the intensity I get when the dye is first applied and it’s still wet. Show a picture when yours is washed and ready for use, please?