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Natural dyestuffs
Nov. 20th, 2008 10:05 amMillinery class is winding down (final projects to be due in a couple weeks--i'll post pix), and i'm looking at preparing for the spring semester class--Dyeing, Surface Design, and Distressing. With history as my guide, I predict that the preponderance of my posts will swap focus soon, from loads of millinery to loads of dyeing. I typically wind up posting most about whatever topic i'm teaching at the time.
I love having a revolving cycle of class topics--it forces me to look into specific topics on a regular basis, reading new (or new-to-me) resources, practicing techniques, and so forth. I'll be posting some book reviews on dyeing texts soon--after Little Prince opens--but i wanted to quickly address a subject that is currently rarely addressed or employed in a theatrical context: natural dyeing.
Currently, theatrical dyeshops typically use a range of synthetic dyes, usually union dyes (like Rit) and fiber-reactive dyes, and sometimes acid dyes and disperse dyes as well. The theatrical dyeshop typically does a lot of small-batch jobs dyed to match, either dyeing one fabric to match another, or dyeing to match a provided color chip or swatch. Sometimes surface design effects are required--shibori patterns or ombre effects, etc. And sometimes, we're asked to dye an existing garment of unknown fiber content, or multiple different types of fibers/fabrics. I've never worked somewhere that employed natural dyestuffs on a regular basis, though i could envision it as an integral part of a particular production's design concept, so the prospect of at some point employing them is not outside the realm of comprehension.
I heard from an old friend and fellow artist recently who had some questions about natural dyestuffs, and i began looking into online resources--though i knew that *I* didn't have the answer, i was certain there would be places for him to connect with those who might, and who might have good recommendations for books and other print resources. And, for myself, i'm interested in potentially adding a component to my dyeing course covering natural dyestuffs. (For example, there's always one student who wants to know more about something like indigo or mudcloth or similar.)
If you, too, are interested in learning more about natural dyestuff processes yourself, one place there might be a lot of useful info and community to be found is on the Natural Dyes Email List, which has a large archive and a number of great resources listed on their splash page, including places to buy natural dyestuffs.
A wonderful online resource for natural dyers and those interested in learning more about natural dyestuffs is the Turkey Red Journal, edited and published by master dyer Pamela Feldman. The journal has its past two years' worth of editions available online, and covers a range of fascinating topics in the field of natural dyeing, including reviews of books on related topics.
And for an idea of the range of colors you can achieve with natural dyes, check out the site of "botanical alchemist" India Flint.
On an unrelated millinery note, the NC Conservation Network's fundraising auction ends tomorrow, to which i donated two modern couture hats! One's currently at $100, and the other's unbid-upon. Check them out if you are a conservation-minded hat-wearer! Both are completely unique one-of-a-kind handmade hats.
I love having a revolving cycle of class topics--it forces me to look into specific topics on a regular basis, reading new (or new-to-me) resources, practicing techniques, and so forth. I'll be posting some book reviews on dyeing texts soon--after Little Prince opens--but i wanted to quickly address a subject that is currently rarely addressed or employed in a theatrical context: natural dyeing.
Currently, theatrical dyeshops typically use a range of synthetic dyes, usually union dyes (like Rit) and fiber-reactive dyes, and sometimes acid dyes and disperse dyes as well. The theatrical dyeshop typically does a lot of small-batch jobs dyed to match, either dyeing one fabric to match another, or dyeing to match a provided color chip or swatch. Sometimes surface design effects are required--shibori patterns or ombre effects, etc. And sometimes, we're asked to dye an existing garment of unknown fiber content, or multiple different types of fibers/fabrics. I've never worked somewhere that employed natural dyestuffs on a regular basis, though i could envision it as an integral part of a particular production's design concept, so the prospect of at some point employing them is not outside the realm of comprehension.
I heard from an old friend and fellow artist recently who had some questions about natural dyestuffs, and i began looking into online resources--though i knew that *I* didn't have the answer, i was certain there would be places for him to connect with those who might, and who might have good recommendations for books and other print resources. And, for myself, i'm interested in potentially adding a component to my dyeing course covering natural dyestuffs. (For example, there's always one student who wants to know more about something like indigo or mudcloth or similar.)
If you, too, are interested in learning more about natural dyestuff processes yourself, one place there might be a lot of useful info and community to be found is on the Natural Dyes Email List, which has a large archive and a number of great resources listed on their splash page, including places to buy natural dyestuffs.
A wonderful online resource for natural dyers and those interested in learning more about natural dyestuffs is the Turkey Red Journal, edited and published by master dyer Pamela Feldman. The journal has its past two years' worth of editions available online, and covers a range of fascinating topics in the field of natural dyeing, including reviews of books on related topics.
And for an idea of the range of colors you can achieve with natural dyes, check out the site of "botanical alchemist" India Flint.
On an unrelated millinery note, the NC Conservation Network's fundraising auction ends tomorrow, to which i donated two modern couture hats! One's currently at $100, and the other's unbid-upon. Check them out if you are a conservation-minded hat-wearer! Both are completely unique one-of-a-kind handmade hats.
