Another polyester experiment

Here’s a picture of a piece of polyester double georgette that I dyed with disperse dyes. It was an experiment, and technically it’s not my best work. Even so, it’s really neat.

The whole piece is 58” wide and two yards long. I applied disperse dyes to a cotton gauze which was hung up to dry. That’s what created the chevron effect in light and dark greys. The finished fabric itself is flat. Then I had to affix the gauze to the polyester, and I tried a light coat of spray adhesive. Then the whole piece was heat pressed. That accounts for the rectangles – it’s the size of the heat press surface. White areas are spots I missed, and darker straight lines are where I pressed the same area twice.

Next time I have a better idea of how to adhere the two fabrics together before I heat press them. I will try using print paste as an adhesive. I’m not sure how to resolve the problem of the missed and double-pressed area. Maybe layout lines on the back.

This fabric and four others have been added to the DippyDyes website. My day job is a little dry right now, so I have to use my time profitably, even if it means NOT dyeing stuff. The goal is five per day. Thanks!

Book is now available!

The long-awaited day is finally here! Jane Townswick's new book, Artful Applique II, is now in print, and for sale on my website. It's very exciting to see my work in the book, including on the 'Tools & Supplies' page, plus the back cover. That's because of Jane's great design. All but one of the design chapters are illustrated with work by her students; my Crown Imperial happened to be the one chosen. But the shape of it is so neat that it appears in the other locations too! Here's a link to Amazon's 'Zoom' page; my block is the furthest to the right, on the top row; the one in the middle row on the right below. The background I dyed, and the stamens are discharged black overdyed with fuchsia; doubtless there are other fabrics in the block that I dyed. And finally, here's a picture of my finished quilt:
Thanks for looking!

Website update in process

Well, the video ad editing by qnnTV.com is nearly complete, so today was the day to upgrade the website version and upload all the items I have photographed. That is turning into a major disaster. So now I have to wait for their tech support person to get back to me, which is why I shouldn't try this on a Saturday. Maybe I can print thumbnails of fabrics and fill out the important details, in a spreadsheet even, so when I can get back to it, I can do lots of cut and paste. Sounds like a good use of time that is otherwise filled with grumbling and nail biting.

Have created some new items, but I haven't taken pictures of them yet, so I can't post them here. I did order more PFD fabrics from Robert Kaufman, and should see them in about 10 days. Before they show, I will be getting another order from Pro Chemical & Dye - new dyes for cotton and polyester. I hope to make some fabrics for garment sewers that won't need as much ironing, and will be unique. And I'm dreaming and scheming about the next new process, but have to pay for:
Quilt Show booth fee - I'm going to be at the show at Oaks in September
Fabrics & Dyes I just purchased
Tech support for the $%#%(@ website shopping cart software

On a positive note, I will have enough white and black stuff to keep me busy all summer. No excuse not to have enough inventory in September. Hope to see you there! - Lisa