One of my favorite fabrics to work with
when landscape quilting is hand-dyed fabrics
and Wendy Richardson,
my guest, is a master at dyeing fabrics.
And, Wendy, people ask me if I dye
my own fabrics and I say no, I leave
it to the pros and I think what our
viewers would like to know is some
of the processes that you work with.
Well, I use Procion dyes.
That's one product that a lot of dyers use
and I pick out certain fabrics.
A lot of times it's fabrics that are already printed.
So this was overdyed?
Right.
That's overdyed.
So, there's already either color or a design
on the fabric as opposed to
a solid like muslin fabric.
So, and the thing that's...
I think is fun is I can use different colors
on the same print,
or multi-colors on a solid or a print.
So, that's kind of also technically an overdye
even though it's a solid it's got more than one color.
So, you dye it once and then dye it a second--
Well, in the same process, you can, so...
You do this in your laundry room?
I do it in my laundry room.
It's a tiny little room, but I have a system worked out.
And lot of buckets and containers.
So, you put the fabric in the buckets?
In a soda ash solution and then wring it out
and then I mix up the colors.
Which is all pretty much how I feel that day.
It's just kind of-- or what the fabric says.
The prints kind of dictate colors
more than a solid.
So, and then, yeah.
And then you dip?
I mix all the colors up and pour them on
and then they have to sit for a couple hours.
And then they get washed a lot and processed
and so at night it's like Christmas.
It's a surprise!
Well, not-- it's just fun.
You know?
Hopefully, it's not too much of a surprise.
So, it's like, "It's what I wanted."
Sure.
But, what I find fascinating is that you overdye.
We dye vintage linens
and crochets and little fun things to work with.
You're not having to make a quilt.
You can just embellish with these
and work it small.
And use them in your home or workin' on a quilt.
A crazy quilts.
Now here are some interesting new processes, at least to me.
I've been playing with shibori which is really fun.
Shibori?
Shibori: so it's a pleated... pleated--
just use my hands and pleat it all up
and put it in a tray, so... and then pour the colors on.
This is more of a surprise than the others.
Well, it really is a striking piece of fabric.
I have enjoyed doing those a lot, so.
I'm going to reach behind me
and pull out a vintage tablecloth.
Now if you have some tablecloths at home that are stained,
this is now a transformed tablecloth.
Transformed, yep,
so you don't have to worry about all the stains.
This is spectacular.
Thank you.
Now, our viewers might know that
I enjoy landscape quilting and I have purchased
many of Wendy's backgrounds...
Fabrics. ...for landscapes.
Your new dyeing technique
you almost create a scene in those in those fabrics.
Right.
So, you have almost like the foreground,
the mid-section and the sky.
The landscape and the sky
and the flowers or grasses and things.
When you're looking at these pieces,
you can almost envision a scene instantaneously.
It's wonderful.
Well, I want people to see that
so it helps them take the next step
and be creative on their own.
So, I like that part of it.
Well, you have done amazing work.
Thank you.
Refined dyeing of fabric.
Made it just-- I call this eye candy.
So, Wendy, thank you for what you do
for the sewing and quilting world.
And thank you for being our guest.
Thanks for having me.