Prepared for Dyeing supplies

A few weeks back I made a custom flag from scratch for some dear friends and I really wanted to share a bit of the process here. I had made a similar one in the past for them and was looking forward to a revisit to batik dying after learning a lot the first time around.

First on the list of essential supplies that made this project a success was a couple yards of PFD Kona Cotton (Prepared For Dyeing) which I found at my local Quilt Shop. PFD means that no extra starches or sizers were used to treat the fabric which allows for as much dye to be soaked up as possible.

Above you will see the image I used to trace the design onto the cotton. I reversed the colors of the original file to reduce how much ink would be used by the printer and split it into 4 parts so that it would fit on standard paper. I taped it to the cotton and traced it with a pencil. I wanted mostly the shapes and larger details to use as a guide and was not concerned with drawing on finer details. I also procured a very large hand quilting hoop to stretch the cotton in making it much easier to move around and also keeping it very flat.

Tjanting tool and double boiler for wax

Here you see essential tool #2 – a Tjanting. This I would use to dip into the hot beeswax and then draw with. This clever tool has a wide opening on the top (facing away in the top pic unfortunately) and a fine funnel tip at the end. Check out this video to see a sample of some girls using this tool and also a large wooden stamp being used.

CRAP!

Things were going well – slow but steady, but then in a mindless accident I tipped my tjanting and spilled hot wax all over the middle! AGH! I had to literally put down the tool and walk away I was so upset. No seam ripper would fix this mistake unfortunately.. well, this is why I traced TWO flags to do. It is always good to have a backup plan and I knew I wanted to make 2 anyway incase something happened in the dye bath, but perhaps I jinxed myself. I carried on and finished the little woodgrain lines. That part took the longest, but was probably also the most fun part of the flag to do.

Another oops moment

Here I learned that if you decide to take a break it is best to take your tool OUT of the wax first. The wax must be very very hot in order to penetrate the fibers fully. You can tell the wax is not hot enough when it starts sitting on top of the fabric instead of soaking in. Having the fabric in the hoop made it very easy to flip over and check the back when I was done to touch up any spots.

Dye Bath in the sink

After waxing both flags they went into the sink with some extra strong black dye. I left them in there for at least an hour or so and would stop by and gently stir them around to make sure there wouldn’t be any funny creases in the black. At this point it is important to not bend the wax too much because it will actually crack and allow bits of black dye to seep in. That is a strong characteristic of batik dying, but for this project I did not want much crackling.

Ironing out the wax

Here is another time where I took an easier route than last time. I ironed out all the wax using some old newspaper. I did this outside since the wax fumes can be stinky and bad for you. I did feel a little bad for how much newspaper it took to soak up all that wax, but I have to admit it was ten hundred times easier and faster than trying to boil all the wax out.

Inspection

Here is Kuma looking somewhat unimpressed with my accomplishments.

Finally - A Flag!

Here is the final flag after hemming the sides and adding grommets. I used a fabric screenprinting ink that was slightly watered down to paint in the red bottle and heat seat that with the iron. I also had to touch up that horrible mistake with some black ink, which was still visible but not worth trashing the flag over. My friends absolutely loved their two flags which is what was important in the end and totally worth the time spent sitting next to the hot pot.

I am really looking forward to using my PFD cotton scraps and tjanting tool to dye some fabrics to incorporate into my sewing. The website I linked to earlier Dharma Trading Co has a ton of yummy looking dyes that I am itching to order now! I am also thinking it would be fun to wax some patterned fabric to dye.

In celebration of surviving this near phone death here are some (now backed up) snapshots of what I have been up to since you last heard from me. Sometimes in my daily rush to get things done these pics will be the only record I have of handmade treasures sent off to make themselves useful. I have been making a lot of gifts lately so I will focus on those.

Sewing Corner

Welcome to my little sewing corner. This is where I spend most of my time.  It is on the 3rd floor of the house and so during these spring & summer months it does get quite hot.  Fortunately directly behind my sewing machine there is a little window unit AC.  I do worry over the amount of electricity I am using, but honestly I would fry up here without it.

Laminated Bikram Bag

This is a little bag I have been calling the Bikram Bag because I made it for my sister to store her soaking wet bikram yoga clothes in when she is done sweating it out with the other crazies in that 105F room.  It is such an awesome bag and so handy that I have already had an order for more that will be used as swimsuit bags! Looking forward to making more for my shop as I have been addicted to sewing with laminated cotton lately.

Laminated Lunch Tote with utensil pocket

Here is one of the many lunch totes I have been making! The inside is laminated cotton, but the outside is a mix of cotton chicken print with an oilcloth base. I insulated this tote with interfacing and a layer of cotton flannel. Again, laminated cotton is the coolest fabric ever! It is hard to tell here but this closes with a little elastic loop over a fabric covered button. I only wish I needed one of these because they are so stinkin’ cute.

Granny with apron

Here is an apron I made for my Granny for Mother’s Day. Granny is my Mother’s mother. Her and my aunt Sherry came to Austin to visit not too long ago and had a good time helping me do some  rollerderby charity sewing and eating Tex Mex. They were also kind enough to take our little chick who grew up to be a rooster. I wanted to keep him, but in an effort to not piss off our neighbours too much it was decided he should go. I am glad he went to live on my Granny’s farm.

little bantam rooster

Parisville quilt top in progress

Here is a quilt top that I feel has been in progress foreverrrr. I have only been working on this on my “off time” nights & weekends.  I am committed to finishing this one before I start another one, which has kept me motivated to keep truckin’ on.  Right now it is at about 80″x80″ but I would like to make it Queen bed sized and so I am thinking about adding a border. What do you think?? If I do not add a border that will mean making a couple more rows of half square triangle blocks..

Quilted messenger bag for Mum

Here is a patchwork bag I made for my Mum for Mothers Day. It is navy corduroy and pale pink twill with some Parisville pinwheels for the front flap. She absolutely loves it and says she get’s tons of compliments on it. Yay! Look forward to similar making its way to my shop.

Diaper Bag

Here is a diaper bag I made as a gift for Mum’s friend & coworker Amy who is having a baby any day now! She is doing her nursery brown & blue and Mum actually helped pick out the perfect fabrics for her.  Denyse Schmidt to the rescue! The thing I love and hate about diaper bags is that they are all about the pockets! I made this one with an adjustable strap, open top for easy access with magnetic closure, large deep outside pockets on both sides, elastic pockets on one side outside and also on the inside.

Amy with diaper bag

Here is a picture of Amy that Mum snapped for me after it was stuffed with baby gifts for her.  I am so happy she likes it and hopes she gets lot of good use out of it.

Well it sure was nice to chat at you. Do keep in touch! I will try not to wait so long to post in the future, but I do recommend you using Google Reader to follow my blog if you do not already. If you have a Gmail address (free!) then click on Reader on the top left (you may have to click More) and add ginapina.com and any other blogs you like to read to your subscription list. This way you any time you have a spare minute to read blogs you can check if several have updated all at once. Make sense? If it weren’t for Google Reader I may actually blog more There are soo many great crafty blogs out there. Adding a “Favorite Links” to this page is on my to do list!

Til next time, Gina Pina