Pyramid Scheme - hand dyed fabric #2

July 2016

Mom saw this quilt at Cherrywood booth at PIQF several years ago.  I bought the pattern but didn't want to pay for the hand dyed fabrics.  I wanted to give dyeing fabric again.  The colors were too close together and it got confusing. The overall effect was okay but not great.  The fabric was difficult to sew, almost like a batik.  Next time try a different fabric.


Here are my dyeing notes.

October 30, 2013

4 gradations of Pagoda Red ½ yard each

4 gradation of Avocado ½ yard each

4 gradations of Cerulean Blue ½ yard each

1 dark Cerulean Blue 1.75 yards

Fabric was Pimatex Cotton PFD 45” PTC45.10 – very slick…batik like

Notes:

Followed instruction of gradated effects in book Dyeing in Plastic Bags by Helen Deighan.  Was not accurate with 1 teaspoon of dye or when adding 1/3 cup of soda and/or salt solution.  Use a jam jar as instructed but very inaccurate at hitting the ½ way line.  Only needed  4 gradations so felt that going past ½ point and filling with water would be okay.  Did not see much difference in color between #1 and #2 while wet.  Just purchased salt.  Soda ash was from tie dyed T-shirts with Karen and Family…Late 1990s I think.  Hope soda ash does not go bad.  Also purchase dyes.  Still have dyes from before.

October 31

None of the 4 gradations was enough in any of the 3 colors.  The 4 Avocado shades were almost the same.  Barely enough difference between the lightest and darkest to be noticeable.  The Pagoda Red was a bit better but I was not happy with it.  Same with the Cerulean Blue.

Took the two middle green ones and re dyed with 1 teaspoon Avocado and 1/8 t of black.  Used most of the dye for one piece.  With about 1 T left of the dye diluted to most of a jam jar and then dyed second piece with soda mix & salt mix and 1/3 c water.  Let sit for 1.5 hours and rinsed.  Great results.  These became the two darkest in the gradation and the two original (darkest and lightest) became the two lightest in the gradation.

Took two middle Pagoda Reds and re-dyed with 1 teaspoon of Jungle Red and 1/8 t of black.  Used same approach as Avocado pieces above.  Great results.

Took two middle Cerulean Blue and used 1 teaspoon Blue Violet and ¼ t black.  Used same approach as above.  The color is too purple and will need to make new.  Great color but will not work for this project.