Painting on Yarn

Our guild, had a "Dye Your Own" day. We could bring in projects or ideas and 2 talented members, Kathy and Carole, shared their knowledge. It was a great time!

Since the 70's I have kept a binder of ideas and things I like. They can be a style of clothing, colours, or piece of fabric - anything I see as inspiration. Last year the online guild I belong to created mood boards and although I did not have time to take part in the workshop, I reorganized my binder creating mood pages. Then came the Friday when I realized I did not have an idea for the Dye Your Own day. Binder to the rescue.

I showed Carole and Kathy my idea - one for a painted weft and another for a painted warp. In my younger years I worked in the dye lab of Ciba-Geigy and never really did get into all the measuring. I love colour and prefer to let my eyes tell me what I like. Two summers ago a did a very bright warp in a workshop and so this time I wanted to try a pale warp. The warp and weft were not for the same project but two different ideas. When I first did the painting I was afraid the colours were too bright, but Carole and Kathy assured me they would lighten and they did.

The weft is a pale pink and turquoise that I plan on using in a surface interest weave and the warp will be used in bands with bands of a plain colour in between. Unfortunately the yarns were not dried in time for our last guild meeting but hopefully I will remember to show them off in February.