The latest play-day for the Diversity girls turned out bright not just because the sun was shining. Several colourful pieces of silk fabric and silk fibres were produced as the girls got down to their first attempts at silk dyeing and some of these fibres will be used in a session in couple of weeks time when the group learn how to make silk paper.
Most of the girls got started by opening their bags of fibres or silk kits just received from an order from Wingham Wools, and some bought lengths of silk fabric from Ann who was happy to reduce her large stash. Jenny then introduced us to several different types of dyes for silk fibres and fabrics and ran through general instructions on various methods of applying the dyes and then setting the colour using microwaves.
Jenny giving instructions while members took notes
These soaked fibres are ready in bowls and plastic film waiting for colour to be added by Gill, who sprinkled dye powder over them randomly
Gwen's first dyed fibres ready to be dried then used for silk paper making
Jill adding a sprinkling of colour to soaked silk fibres
Gill's soaked fabric ready for steaming in the microwave.
There were lots of oohhs and aahhs when the fabrics were unwrapped from their plastic- film steam baths,
Yvonne's first piece of dyed silk fabric
Maureen with her dyed silk scarf
Cath pleased with her first result
Gwen's dyed fabric
More of Yvonne's dyed fabrics
Carol's dyed fabric
everyone tried dyeing silk fibres but it was quite difficult to photograph them, above Jenny's
and below Jill's
These two striking designs (above and below) are Carol's fabrics
Gwen pleased with her dyed silk square
The girls plan on meeting next week to have a show and tell when all the fabrics and fibres will look quite different after drying and the fabrics are pressed. Hope to see you then.
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