|
Post by josiebrat on Mar 12, 2014 19:55:34 GMT
Hello everyone,
I'm in the Northeast part of the U.S. and make nuno felting scarves. I currently buy the black and white fabrics from Dharma, and have purchased dyed colors in silk from one person, and recently something from a seller on Etsy. I'm looking for more options to buy silk with variegated colors. Can someone offer some suggestions of resources I can check out. Since I'm starting to create more volume price is a concern, but quality is also my top priority. thanks in advance Josie
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Mar 12, 2014 22:09:46 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 13, 2014 0:56:19 GMT
Josie, have you thought about dyeing your own? I hadn't intended to do any dyeing, but ended up doing my own but the biggest concern is getting a light enough weave (momme) for the wool to easily migrate through. You can do it with commercial silks that are 8mm but it's more work, dharma has the best prices, but if you're looking for other places you can check out onlinefabricstore.net, Denverfabrics.com, or New York Fashion .center. but none offer anything but 8 mm. Good luck. Please post some more pics of your work,
|
|
|
Post by zed on Mar 13, 2014 8:34:51 GMT
I'd go with dyeing too or even painting. I would definitely do it if I had the space.
|
|
|
Post by carole aka craftywoman on Mar 13, 2014 9:31:11 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 13, 2014 14:26:14 GMT
Josie, we have a lot of resources here. Dharma also has tutorials for the products they sell for dyeing. Please let us know if you have questions.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Mar 13, 2014 14:48:15 GMT
I dye my own silk using MX dyes and the low water immersion method. you just need some containers like pasta souse jars. Paula Burches site has the instructions. Its easy and you can do lots all at once and only takes a few hours. she explains what all the dyes and chemicals are. she also suggests instead of paying to ship the chemical sodium carbonate you go to the pool store and buy a bucket of PH UP. much cheaper. www.pburch.net/dyeing/lowwaterimmersion.shtml
|
|
|
Post by josiebrat on Mar 13, 2014 20:08:42 GMT
Wow…So many responses, and goodinfo. Down the road I may have to dye my own but right now I don't have the space, nor the time. I'm also a quilter so I have to balance my time between felting and quilting, although felting seems to be more than 50% of my time these days.. It's so interesting, and there is so many new things or techniques to learn…Anyway, I'm going to make a note of all the options you have offered and check them out. Ann- this MX dye seems interesting, so i will try and take a look at this soon. I will definitely check out the crafty bettle website. I also made a contact with a China resource the other day through an ex colleague, but was surprised to find their pricing higher than Dharma. They're only offering 8mm as they told me they discontinued the 5mm previously as it could not pass the flammability test. I believe I have been buying 8mm from Dharma. I have added a few more attachments of my work.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 13, 2014 20:19:47 GMT
Again, your work is beautiful and if you intend to continue to cover the surface with wool or prefelt you may not have to consider dyeing your own. I started dyeing because I couldn't find the colors I wanted. I've tried acid, Procion and the jacquard green silk dyes that are liquid and can be used to paint silk as well. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by josiebrat on Mar 13, 2014 20:33:50 GMT
Yes i have covered most of my surface with wool so far, but I also like to have a nice effect on the backside. It almost makes the scarves 2 sided when the back is a nice color. The way I'm doing it now, maybe i should try to use more white as my base as this could also help to reduce my cost. I'm sure you don't realize that you gave me an idea based on your first statement. Do you leave a lot of your silk open when you nuno felt? I have not tried using white on the backside yet, but i think i'll give it a try on my next one to see the effect.
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Mar 13, 2014 20:51:13 GMT
Very nice pieces Josie. I almost always leave the silk open and use very little wool with nuno felting. I love how the silk ruches and that is the effect I like to see. You should try a piece with less wool and leave some of your silk free from wool. I think you might like the effect.
|
|
|
Post by zed on Mar 14, 2014 10:20:10 GMT
Ann and Ruth have both got great results from dyeing in jars, it doesn't take much space and time is just waiting. Even acid dyes and steaming can be done on the draining board and is only half an hour in the steamer. There are even videos on youtube for painting silk with sharpies and rubbing alcohol!
|
|
|
Post by josiebrat on Mar 14, 2014 23:42:20 GMT
Ruth,
I will also try making a scarf with less wool next week. I have seen a lot like this and i do like the effect. If I decide to leave the sides without wool i will have to buy silks that are hemmed, and do the hem myself.
|
|
|
Post by josiebrat on Mar 14, 2014 23:44:09 GMT
Zed,
I will have to give some serious thought to dyeing my own silk. I guess I always assumed it was difficult, but maybe I need to do more research and look at the options. thanks
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 15, 2014 1:42:34 GMT
Josie, you don't have to have hemmed edges. I plan to provide a blog about rulffed edges in a a couple of weeks, Please stay tuned!
|
|