dye – Measured Threads

August 19, 2017

A Study in Black and White

I bought a new dress to wear for a wedding tonight, it just needed the right accessory to make it look great. So this morning I pulled out one of my silk scarf blanks and mixed up a little Jet Black Jaquard Acid Dye in a jar with boiling water. I made a shibori “donut” by folding the scarf in half and rolling it around a piece of cotton twine on the diagonal. You then pull the twine tightly and tie it to make a little silk donut. Then I wet it and dunked it into the jar of dye. After microwaving it on and off to keep it hot and stirring it with a chopstick, I added the vinegar to set the dye. I microwaved it a little more, then rinsed well with synthopol and ironed it dry. In less than an hour, I had the perfect accessory! Check out my Instagram feed, measuredthreads, for a few more photos.

September 14, 2016

Weaving Shibori

In the Rigid Heddle Loom Study Group I lead at the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, we are working on a woven Shibori project. Last week we brought in our projects that we wove with supplemental weft. We got together to pull the supplemental weft threads to gather the woven cloth to create the areas of resist before dyeing. In the photo above I am pulling the blue supplemental threads along one side of the cloth. I pulled them in small groups that match the block patterns I was weaving into the cloth. Pull them about halfway across the cloth (be careful not to pull out the threads from the other side) and tie the small group of threads into and overhand knot. Finish one side before starting the other.

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Next as you see in the above photos, I have started on the other side of the cloth. To make it easier to tie the threads into the block groups again, I snip the loops of thread as I come to them.

Pull the group until the cloth gathers against the overhand knot tied on the other side. Pull tightly and tie into a surgeons knot on this side (not and overhand like the other side). If you break a thread by pulling too tightly that will just be a variation in the pattern in your finished cloth. Thensecure the surgeons knot with a second knot on top of it instead of finishing with a bow

Above is the fully gathered cloth after I snipped off excess dangling threads.

Next up will be dyeing the gathered cloth in an indigo dye pot.

August 21, 2016September 15, 2016

Silk, Shibori and Indigo

Registration is now closed. If you wish to plan a shibori silk scarf party for you and a group of 5-10, please contact me at this email and we can set it up!

I will be hosting a 4 hour beginner’s workshop in my yard in Silverton, Ohio Sunday September 18 at 1:00 pm on the art form of Shibori and indigo dyeing. Shibori is an ancient Japanese art in which cloth is bound, stitched, folded, twisted and/or compressed to create patterns in cloth before dyeing.

You will receive a blank silk scarf that is dye ready. We will learn Kumo, Kanko, and Itajime Shibori techniques to create patterns of resist for a beautiful and unique scarf. You will choose 1 or 2 techniques for your scarf, prepare it, dye it in the indigo pot, rinse it, iron it dry and take it home. No previous experience necessary!

Workshop is $35 and includes the scarf and materials needed for the resists, the use of the dye pot and a handout.

Indigo dyeing is wet and messy. Please bring a good pair of rubber gloves that has a long cuff (not stopping at the wrist) to keep the dye from leaking into the gloves. The indigo dye is a slightly alkaline solution and not harmful to most people but stains and can take up to a week to wear off. The more worried you are about blue hands, the better and longer your gloves should be. Wear old clothes and shoes that can get dye on them.

The address and directions to my home will be sent to you after registration.

Limit 10 participants. To register and pay, click “Add To Bag” below. (Registration is now closed and link to register has been removed.)

Cancellation policy 100% refund before September 14, no refund after September 14 unless your space can be filled.
Click here to email Nancy with questions or comments. MeasuredThreads

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015

Fiber Arts Sale

I am selling some of my handmade items at the upcoming Fiber Arts Sale at the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati. The sale begins Friday, November 13 at 4 p.m. and continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. The work of many skilled artisans of the guild will be available to purchase for yourself or for Christmas gifts that show you care enough to give hand-made. My cowls that are pictured here are hand-knit with luxurious merino wool hand dyed in Uruguay by a family business (Malabrigo Yarn) that hires local women, uses environmentally friendly dyeing practices, and sources the wool from non-mulsed sheep that are shepherded in the hills of Uruguay. They are a warm and cushy fashion statement. If you can’t make it to the sale, contact me about knitting one just for you!

Some of my indigo dyed, shibori style cotton napkins are also in the sale. They are priced for sale in pairs so that you can make a set of 2, 4, 6 or more, and each napkin is unique. Indigo is a classic color and shibori-inspired fashion and home decor items are really trending right now. They sure make a for snazzy table at a dinner party or just for you family meals.

I have a dye day coming up and can make more napkins, along with generously sized silk scarves that flatter everyone.

I also have submitted handwoven cotton and linen towels to the sale. The warp is ring spun natural cotton and the weft is a blue cotton/linen blend. Each has a unique weaving pattern. They are individually priced, so you can buy one, two, or all four if you get there in time! Want to commission a set of towels for a gift? Contact me and I can make something similar to meet your needs.

The Weavers Guild is located at 480 Gray Road, near Spring Grove Cemetery. I’ll be there from 4-8 p.m. on Friday evening. Get there Friday if you want the best selection, there is always a line waiting to get in.