Experimenting With Over Dyeing!

In my previous post I mentioned dyeing with just browns and blacks to see how far I could push the color range. I decided to over dye a few of those pieces - just because! The photos on the left are the "control" pieces to show you what was over dyed. The piece on the right is the over dyed piece.  

I used evergreen on this one. You can still see the browns underneath and when fully opened the fabric has a forest-like organic feel.

Just like the first dyed piece this one is just as mellow. Although slightly deeper the color is less dramatic than the other expedients. With that being said there is no reason to "dis" mellow! I can envision many designs this will work with!  

This piece of over dyed using Cobalt Blue. It's harder to see the browns from the first dye but the brighter blue keeps the fabric interesting and added a
"depth" not seen with just one dye. 

It's always a treat to experiment and "learn things"!

Hand Painted Cotton "Over-Dyed" with Snow!

I know most of us have pieces of fabric we've created but never fully embraced the end result! Maybe you even have a piece of commercial fabric that has lost it's allure. If so don't give up - over dye it! Again with the snow plentiful I chose to over dye using that technique. If you don't have snow you could use ice cubes. 

I had a couple of hand painted pieces that got tossed into the catch-all basket waiting for inspiration. I looked at them for the umpteenth time but this time I decided to over dye with snow. I should have taken a before and after photo but I was so uninspired with the "before" that I didn't think of it! 

This piece was originally painted and has sunprinted leaves scattered throughout.
Next the hiking boots were screened across the fabric.
I over dyed with snow using a bright red.

Here is a detail shot. I was delighted the sunprinted leaves remained visible.

This piece was painted with pink circles and blue swirls.

Here is a detailed shot over dyed with brown.

The first fabric with the hiking boots is 34" X 42".

The second piece with pink and blue is 34" X 44". 

Each piece is $25

I would love to hear about your experience over dyeing fabric and creating a piece that's more exciting!  

Indigo Dye!

Indigo is among the oldest dyes used for textile dyeing and printing.

The dye was also known to ancient civilizations in Egypt, Greece and Rome but India is believed to be the oldest center for indigo dyeing in the Old World. Today most indigo dyes are synthetic but the color is just as beautiful as the extracted plant dyes from ancient times.

I dyed this cotton using a synthetic indigo dye and then over dyed with a lighter, brighter blue. This picture might not capture the color contrast well but it's actually rather dramatic - it almost glows!

I love Surface Design!

I find surface design to be the most exciting element in my creative energy lately! I can't get enough and I want to create all day - every day! Each of the below fabrics combines a number of methods; dying, painting, manipulation, free form "flicking" of paints and over dying! Talk about losing yourself and being free... and by the way "flicking" is not a technical term!

Over Dying

Sometimes the end result of my dyed fabric isn't quite what I had in mind or it feels like it's missing something. Once I cure my fabric I start over with fresh eyes and decide if I should dye or paint over the original colors. Below are a few fabrics I decided to dye again - it's such a freeing expereince to add more layers!

I used whiffle balls and clips and poured more dye over the tops

I wonder what the creator of the whiffle ball would think!

Here I folded the fabric adding clips and rubber bands

It's a surprising look

I used the lid to a jar securing it with a rubber band

This outcome was the biggest surprise to me!