March 12, 2012

Turquoise and Purple

I joined the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria yesterday in order to take the introduction to weaving workshop in May. I have been wanting to learn weaving for a while now. This is a good chance for me to actually do it. The only kind of weaving I am interested in is a rag weaving (Sakiori in Japanese). I would like to use my eco-dyed silk to weave with and later, silk saris as well. A dear friend Jeannette (no blog) is giving me a loom. When I know how to weave I will pick it up. It's nearly a thousand Kms drive from here. It's worth the drive to visit her and pick up the loom at the same time. Exciting times ahead for me. So wish me luck on this new textile venture...!


There is also a cool shop at the Handweavers and Spinners selling hand spun yarns, knitted items, raw fleece for spinning, books and dyes both natural and synthetic. I like supporting fibre artists so I bought this gorgeous hand spun wood and silk yarn to make my favourite scarf for myself. 


The scarf is done by crochet using fine yarn. It has to be something very soft as well. When I touched this  yarn I fell in love with it. It has a skein of fine silk running through it. Beautiful to work with too.  Turquoise is not a colour I normally wear, but I love all colours, so I'm sure I can wear it too. 


Unfortunately photography is not allowed in the shop, but I was told only after I snapped this photo of hand made scarves. I don't know why people are so protective of their goods if they want to sell them. The more  people can see them, the faster they can sell them.


Now for a serious topic, dyeing! I have not dyed for a couple of weeks now. I'm actually running out of silk for dyeing. I have to search for the new premisses of Ziguzagu for more silk. Ziguzagu has moved from the warehouse location to a shop front location at 440 Malvern Rd. Prahran 3181. It will be easier for passers by to find them there. I'm planning to visit them next Saturday. 


Okay, back to dyeing. In this batch I used purple carrots and eucalyptus leaves to dye with. Above is cotton thread I included in the bundle. The purple carrot gives out a very intense colour until the last drop.


I found this cotton blouse from an op-shop. I wrapped diced carrot randomly inside and steamed for an hour. The dark patches result from rusty nails. It will go perfectly with a pair of jeans. Can't wait to wear it to work next week.


A close up of the imprints from juvenile eucalyptus leaves. I like placing the branches randomly on the cloth and let nature do its thing. This is part of the long piece of cloth below.


The purple bits happened in the steamer when one purple carrot bundle touched another. Luckily it happened to both ends of this cloth. It looks like a well planed pattern! I wished I had left it longer before  opening it, but I had a few minutes of excitement opening it this morning so it was worth not waiting...

Hope everyone is keeping well out there. Busy and exciting time ahead for me as the Japanese Textile Study Tour is only 4 weeks away. I will be posting lot of photos during the tour on the tour Facebook. It's public so you don't need to have a Facebook account.



Enjoy
Nat

23 comments:

antique quilter said...

I just really love the look of the imprints from juvenile eucalyptus leaves. I can see using just that yellow piece as the center of a medallion quilt...or the background for an applique block...just sooo pretty
nice yarn.....very pretty blouse too...I love seeing your dyeing masterpieces!
Kathie

Gypsys Daughter said...

Hi Nat,
You are going to fall in love with weaving and your silks will be perfect with that medium! I just joined the Vermont weavers guild here in New England in the U.S. I've been weaving for a long time, but recently have a renewed interest. I'm working on a scarf warped with some madder and indigo dyed alpaca. I'll post a pic on my blog this week when I get some time. I'm at GypsysLegacy.blogspot.com. Keep up your beautiful work! Love the new yarn above!

Liz said...

That crochet scarf is beautiful - do you have a link for the pattern?

blandina said...

I love the new yarn and the pattern is just to die for (yes, please, give us the link for the pattern).
I love the yellows and purples of your ecodyeing, I hope that we will soon find purples carrots in this country.
Every picture in this post is great.

Nedra said...

Your weaving project sounds so interesting! I am looking forward to posts and seeing your progress. Beautiful colors again with your dying projects!

deanna7trees said...

beautiful yarn. i also love to crochet and have a few patterns waiting for me. i know you will love the weaving...can't wait to see what you do there. i need to search out some purple carrot seeds now that it's planting time.

Needled Mom said...

You will have so much fun with that loom. I can't wait to see your creations.

The carrots give off such a fabulous color in dying. Wow.

Jeannie said...

The yarn is so very beautiful, as is the cloth and thread you dyed. I am on the hunt for purple carrot seeds! Thanks for such an inspiring post. I love the scarf you are crocheting. A beautiful way to showcase the yarn. Wishing you a beautiful week.

Els said...

You did so well with your colours Natima!!!!
Love the purple ánd the turquoise (;-) !) as wel
That was a lucky coincidence the carrot rol toughing the other one. (néver seen purple carrots though, but they're fun)

Els said...

sorry: touching ....

Peggy said...

Spectacular color, Nat! I love the newly-dyed blouse to wear with jeans. And your crocheted scarf is beautiful. How fun to start out on your weaving journey by actually taking a journey to pick up your loom! Thanks for all the lovelies here today! xo

Judy Martin said...

purple carrots. I had no idea. Reminds me of that children's rhyme...I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one, but I can tell you anyhow, I'd rather see than be one. ha ha.

You have such success with dyeing. Very inspiring to read this blog.

apiecefullife said...

Guess what Nat? I can weave. I did a year at the College of Textiles, last century,and I have a lovely simple 4 shaft floor loom. I always intended waeving a rug with old ties but they went into a quilt instead.

Dot said...

Hi Nat. Am sure you will weave some beautiful creations when you have your loom. The wool you chose for your scarf is stunning. I think that color will look lovely on you. Your latest dyeing results are beautiful. Loving the purple!
Hugs
Dot x

Jacky said...

Another scarf...they are addictive arent they? I've just finished one for a friend for Easter, in pinks and reds. Your yarn is gorgeous and I cant wait to see your rag weaving.
More wonderful dyeing...those purples and blues look amazing. Looking forward to catching up on Saturday.

Jacky xox

onesmallstitch said...

WOW, Nat beautiful colours, wonderful textures. Do you sleep or are you waiting to do that in Japan?? ha ha! Have fun weaving, can wait for an update. Don't limit your thinking to sakiori, wait 'till you can weave silk scarves...

Terry said...

I was a member of the Vic Spinners and Weavers for all of the '80's. We only lived 3 hrs from Melbourne in thoes days. It was a very active and lots of nice members.
The yarn is yummy yes to link.
Did all your coleagues Oh and Ah over the pretty purole shirt. I like it lots.

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Nat the turquoise will look lovely on you...I absolutely love the carrot dye...how beautiful...All looks so fun...I can imagine how exciting it would be to open up a bundle xoxo

antArtiste said...

Thank you for your instructions... Have a nice day and good luck..
Dox.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for pictures of the purple carrot dye. I`m new to dyeing and always interested in more ways to make my favorite color naturally :)

lynda Howells said...

Love your images. I have not found purple carrots over here in Uk...can you get them as seeds yet do you know Nat?xxxlynda

anastasia said...

the blouse looks fantastic; really, all of the dyed pieces are wonderful. it's really neat seeing purple dye that's more blue. all i seem to ever get is the reddish purple variety. you're going to have a sublime time in japan!

redsuedekitten said...

Hi - a late comment, but I'm wondering if you used any mordents to make your purple carrot top, or whether you simply steamed the carrots in the top? Such a rich colour! Was the shirt white to start with?

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