Stitch Therapy

 

 

An afternoon of machine stitching with strips of fabric wound round some garden twine was just the therapy I needed after a busy week.   I have seen these made by one or two bloggers and I have been wanting to have a go for a while.  Most use chord of some sort to wind their fabric around.  I didn't have any on hand so I used what was available, i.e. garden twine.  I think it worked just fine.


Another weekend is about to unfold.
I hope it is a good one for you.

Joan.

Dyeing with bee balm

This was once a white shirt.  I felt like some fun today, so gathered up some tired looking
bee balm flowers (red) and one or two pieces of greenery. 
The shirt was pre soaked in vinegar and salt then spread with my plant material, rolled up
tightly and secured. 



The bee balm was happy to provide  some colour for this tired old shirt.
Surprisingly that colour was pink!

Those rusty colours and charcoal grey came from two bulldog clips helping to hold the fabric
in a bundle for the dyeing process.  I like the unplanned contrasts.

The grey/charcoal colouring came from two large paperclips.  They also produced
the rust colouring as well.
The contrast is rather good, I think.

I steamed the shirt, tightly rolled in my dye pot for two hours.
It really was fun way to spend a few hours.

If you want to do something different and feel like playing,  I recommend giving this a go.
Heaps of fun and the results are surprising.  Some colours may not be colourfast but thats all
part of the process.  The colours are interesting and if they don't work first time round you can always have another go using different plant materials and techniques.


I wonder how many of my readers
enjoy dyeing with plants?
Would love to hear from you.
Cheers,
Joan.