Printed Miscellany

Last weekend I felt the urge to cut lino and print fabric. I had been doodling designs influenced by some Indian wood blocks that I have. I cut the lino and then searched out fabric that I had already dyed. Fabrics had been dyed using procion dyes.
To print I used System 3 acrylic paint with the textile printing medium: fluorescent pink (538), ultramarine (123) and emerald (335)

I printed the first design with pink on a strange muted pink fabric ....

 .... and on a blue fabric

I also used the same colour on the second design.

I then overprinted with blue

With this design I offset the second print

Here I used blue and green.

I then spent the week experimenting with different creatures. Some are stuffed with polyester toy stuffing and some with a mixture of wheat and lavender. They need completing with ribbons and tags.

Predictive Dormancy

The students were going to be exhibiting their final year coursework in a large external venue. We (the staff) decided that we should also exhibit some of our own work. So with three weeks notice ...

I have an allotment and loved the shapes of the seedheads left to overwinter. I wanted to show how these plants that looked dead would re-emerge in the spring. I decided to use the shapes but use spring colours.

I started with transfer printing. This involved actually using the plants as a mask whilst I ironed prepainted (with transfer paints) paper onto polyester cotton fabric.

This is what the plants end up looking like.

I used a mixture of yellow and blue for this background printing. I then experimented with free machining and painting.

I wanted to add further layers of fabric, net and chiffon have been added to the next sample.

I also added lino printing both underneath and on top of these layers. To complete the piece I added some 3D seedheads created by stitching on dissolvable fabric. The final piece is 90cm long and 35cm wide.

Here is a detail:

Blouses

Quite often I will see fabric that I think would make a lovely blouse. I have now collected several metres but had still not made anything. So over the Christmas break I decided it was time ...

I looked at blouses I already had, some leant to me by a friend and an old pattern. I then set about making my own pattern - I had forgotten how much I loved pattern cutting.

Instead of making a toile (a practice one) out of calico I decided to use one of the fabrics.

I decided the collar was too large, so I modified the pattern and also emphasised the yoke.

I then decided to make one with three quarter length sleeves. I had liked the inclusion of a plain fabric so extended this idea. I could either wear the sleeves down or folded up.

Now all I need is warm enough weather so that I can wear them.