#ealtutorialtuesday with Maeve Hunter : Textile Dying
10:52 AM
Hello Lovelies!
Today we have Maeve Hunter taking over #EAL and we couldn't be more excited! So without further adieu … here's Maeve!
Dyeing with natural dyes, using plants mineral
and animals has been around since man began wearing and making clothes.
Synthetic dyes started in the mid 1800s. Synthetic dyes are easiest for the
beginner as you only need fixative and table salt with them to get started.
I find that people are afraid of textiles as an
art form. They don’t mind drawing on paper and throwing that away if they make
a mistake, but they seem to be afraid of fabric. But what’s even better about
dyeing is that you can dye as an art form, as part of interior design by
creating your own fabric for curtains blinds cushions, in fact any fabric
surface or for upcycling clothes to give your wardrobe a boost at very little
cost.
Go ahead have a go! Start with an old tshirt or
something and play with the dyes. I also find if you play with art materials
first and get a feel for them it’s the best way to understand them and gives
you greater confidence and control in the long run. Buy old sheets in a second
hand shop and cut them into pieces and experiment. You don’t have to spend a
fortune on new fabric or clothes. Most importantly have fun. Remember that the
fabric you dye must be 100 per cent natural to work best. If you are using
multiple colours work from light to dark.
In Ireland Dylon dyes are the most accessible
dyes. They can be bought in chemists, hardware stores and art supply shops.
Whatever dye you use, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Use
more water if you want a lighter shade. Always leave in the dye as long as you
can and remember to rinse with cold water until the water runs clear. Wet
fabrics are darker in colour, so if you are trying to match colours in an
interior remember to take this into account when you are comparing wet with
dry. Cold water dyes are the easiest to control especially when you are
starting out or if you are working with children and you can put your fabric in
and out of the dye as you so wish. Plastic buckets are the best utensils to use
and you can get plastic tongs for taking
your fabric in and out of the dye. They can be bought cheaply in euro or dollar
stores. Use rubber gloves and cover your clothes. Dye does dye your hands and
clothes if you don’t cover up !!! It will come off your hands eventually..
Using Resists, string, elastic bands and pegs
Wet your fabric first.
Then tie your fabric
with cotton string or elastic bands. Remember to tie as tight as you can,
because you are trying to stop the dye going where the string or bands are. In
other words the tied fabric is resisting the dye. You can retie the dyed rinsed
fabric to create different colours and shades of fabrics. Play play play !!!!
A sample of fabric tied with string
A sample of fabric tied with rubber bands
But remember:
Another easy resist is pegs.
Fold your fabric
and then use nice large plastic pegs and push them right into the fabric. You
will create squares and other marks, I love them ! You can choose the distance
you want between the pegs to create different designs. The fabric needs to be
folded a few times and to be fairly thick for best results.
But again, experiment,
find your own way of dyeing and using resists. Just enjoy and have fun, when
you are relaxed you create the best pieces.
About Maeve :
Maeve Hunter
I am an artist crafter and educator. I have a
BDes in Textile Design, a HDipADE in Art and Design Education and a Masters in
Visual Arts Education.
I love to create and I love to teach. Although I was always interested in art I
didn’t attend college until I was 36 and continued going for many years and I
don’t think I am finished yet! I first became interested in dyeing whilst studying
textile design. I used to spend hours in the dye room. I love its spontaneity
and the fact you are usually surprised with the results whether good or bad. I
usually dye my own fabrics for my textile work. I also use dye for interiors
and for my crafts. I have worked as a
dyer on several films and for the theatre. I have given workshops in dyeing
with children in Kenya and Namibia. Last year on an artist residency in
Namibia, as well as giving workshops to college students and children with
special needs, I had an exhibition of my textile work and dyeing was a major
part of this.
Thanks Maeve for the lovely tutorial ;) I think it is safe to say there are definitely some textile projects in both of our futures
Emily & Aideen x
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