I’m continuing to weave yardage on the 10/2 cotton warp, this time to explore patterning in dye applications. Â There are so many surface design techniques available that it’s hard to know where to start, but I’m going to start with a modest experiment: white on white except in places where simple figures are stenciled in, using thickened dye. Â This will produce a “white” scarf with areas of pattern. Â I’m looking at the balance between size of figure and size of pattern, so I will start by screen printing small circles, then larger ones, and meanwhile varying the size of the woven pattern. Â I think I could produce some interesting effects by going with small circles with a small-size pattern, then larger circles with a larger-size pattern. Â So that is what I’m trying next.
Also on the plate is the possibility of doing a “tie-dye” in multiple colors, showing the pattern clearly throughout. Â Here the pattern becomes more of an overall pattern and the focus is on the interplay of color in the “background”.
I’m also experimenting with different fibers for the weft. Â I don’t like combining cellulose and protein fibers generally, because the care requirements are so wildly different. Â Cellulose likes alkaline environments and a hot iron, protein fibers like acid environments and a cool iron. Â Up until recently there really wasn’t much choice if you wanted to do cross-dyeing. Â However, there’s a new product out, EZ Dye Cotton, which has been pretreated to accept dyes where normal cotton won’t. Â I’ve bought a cone of that and will be experimenting with it as weft.
So many things to try! Â I’m really excited about this, I think it has a lot of potential.
House-wise, the flooring has arrived at the installer’s warehouse and is being delivered to the new house today. Â They expect to be done installing by the end of next week, at which point we can actually MOVE IN!! Â So I have started scheduling things. Â It’s time to start packing: our move-in date will be June 23.