Natural Dyes Archives - Page 27 of 31

Vermont Artist Dyes Fabric With Sumac And Indigo For Janis Joplin-Inspired Clothing

VPR, Vermont NPR writes: “Recently, NPR has been exploring the concept of color and the impact that rich hues have in our day-to-day lives. That’s a topic that’s near and dear to one Northeast Kingdom artist. Graham Keegan makes fabric dye from plants that he harvests near his Kirby home — plants like wild sumac and home-grown indigo. His natural dyes attracted the attention of a clothing line that pays homage to Janis Joplin. The late singer’s niece, Malyn Joplin, has launched a clothing line called “Made for Pearl,” and she’s hired Keegan to design and produce fabric.” Check out the … Read more

EXHIBIT: The Drawing Center Features ‘Thread Lines’

IF IN NYC….”This group exhibition features sixteen artists who engage in sewing, knitting, and weaving to create a wide-range of works that activate the expressive and conceptual potential of line and illuminate affinities between the mediums of textile and drawing. Multi-generational in scope, Thread Lines brings together those pioneers who—challenging entrenched modernist hierarchies—first unraveled the distinction between textile and art with a new wave of contemporary practitioners who have inherited and expanded upon their groundbreaking gestures. More info here on the Drawing Center site. Image: Ellen Lesperance (b. 1971, Minneapolis, MN) at the Drawing Center

Upstate’s Designer Breaks Down Shibori Dyeing, GIF-Style

Ok, so this GIF-Style guide to shibori dyeing on Racked is completely amazing. While they don’t use natural dyes, let us suggest our very own Indigo Shibori Kit that is a fan favorite. Now, get reading this story because it’s awesome. “Upstate‘s beautifully dyed designs may look like they were crafted in a Catskills cabin, and lovingly hung on a twine laundry line (by friendly sparrows) to dry, but they are, in fact, made in a Greenpoint studio by shibori expert Kalen Kaminski. We stopped by the East River space to get a one-on-one lesson in the ancient Japanese fabric … Read more

Fun Natural Dye Chart by Collective Individual

Do you know what natural dyes make what colors? We loved coming across this fun chart from Collective Individual.

‘Water and Earth’ on View at Gallery 51 in North Adams, MA

Gallery 51 manager Julia Morgan-Leamon and North Adams, Massachusetts artist Sarah Sutro, who has a studio in the Eclipse Mill, have curated a group show of 10 local, national and international artists, in “Water and Earth,” a call to protect fragile ecosystems. “Sutro brought the idea to the gallery. It has roots in a trip abroad, she said. She lived in Bangladesh for two years and in Thailand for four. Bangladesh is a burgeoning society, she said. It has come through rough conflict in 1971 and has begun to develop: Small businesses are coming back and are open to sharing … Read more

Going ‘Underfoot’ With Natural Dye & Textile Artist Brece Honeycutt

Natural dye and textile artist Brece Honeycutt says that over the past few months, her studio wall has been transformed into an installation of handmade sculptural books, “some stacked on shelves or wedged into small crates, and others hung directly onto the wall so that the pages cascade down,” giving the viewer, another way of seeing nature. This weekend, Honeycutt’s installation, a deliciously earthly narrative will feature works on paper and cast-off textiles at the Knox Gallery in Monterey Massachusetts, for a solo exhibition called Underfoot. The exhibition will showcase interpretations of old books happened upon in archives, showing their … Read more

Berlin-Based Blond and Bieber Create Stunning Algae Dyes

We found this amazing article today on Dezeen featuring Berlin design studio Blond and Bieber. The duo uses algae to create colorful dyes for textile printing and has just won a competition for young designers organized by Lodz Design Festival. The studio’s founders Essi Johanna Glomb and Rasa Weber have also created an analogue textile-printer that produces its own dye using different types of algae. Another interesting point about this? Dezeen says in the article that “the prints are photo sensitive and change tone over time when exposed to sunlight, creating a ‘biodynamic colour palette.’” Read more on Dezeen here and … Read more

Ask Kathy: I Want Saturated Color!

Dear Kathy, I am a total newbie natural dyer and one thing I keep wondering about is why am I always getting a marbling effect when I dye? I’d love to know how to get saturated color! My husband and I would like to darken our denim and it’s not working the way we’d like. Signed, Atlantic Amy (and Jim) ______________ Hi Amy, Sounds like you are looking for a more even shade when you dye with natural dyes? Nearly all hand dyeing has a characteristic unevenness, and this is actually preferred by many dyers and designers as the hallmark … Read more

Sweet Peach Creates Natural Dyes For Home DIY

We love discovering new blogs that tackle natural dyeing. Sweet Peach is one of our new favorites and had us when we just saw kids in the kitchen. Kids never stop wanting to create and play and what better than to bring common household items into the fold to create with! Check out this great blog post they did using Tumeric, coffee, blackberries, tea, beets, red cabbage, berries and spinach -these ladies had a blast. Check out this blog post to see their results and if you’re looking for an all in one kit, look no further than one of … Read more

Introducing…Botanical Colors Indigo and Alabama Chanin!

We’ve been waiting to tell you all about our collaborative project with Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin and so welcome you to the world of blue! Ecouterre writes: “Alabama Chanin is back in blue. After a nearly two-year hiatus, the Florence, Ala.-based apparel label is reintroducing its popular indigo collection, including pieces dyed for the first time on location at the sprawling design and production space it calls “The Factory.” Manufactured locally from 100 percent organic cotton, the revamped range incorporates a mix of basic accessories, classic styles, and hand-embellished one-of-a-kind designs, along with overdyed offerings from A. Chanin, its … Read more