Dye class: we are painting with natural dyes, both in a paste and in a watered down version for washes and such. So far we've painted on silk and cotton. And we've used indigo! The only natural blue dye besides woad (I think though that woad is less of a nice blue) in the world.

Fabric construction/Pattern design: we made flaps, joined pieces of fabric together all fancy with linings, made cut out shapes that were fully lined on the inside edges, and fully lined inside out shapes.

Design: mask making, a flat one and a 3d one... I made the first one so far out of wooden beads woven together. not sure what to do yet about the next one, but I am sure to think of something.

And other than that, the major project full size prototype was completed, though now I'm trying to make the real thing. I'm using old wool jackets and cotton material for the whole thing, and I am currently trying to give the gourd backpack some stability by using interfacing.

AND INTO NOVEMBER

(photo one) my sample project- all the wool we dyed with acid dyes organized in a creative way, took a long time, and I think I'll do a different way for natural dyes. I make these strips of cheesecloth pockets, and there's about 189 samples of wool. Almost 200 pockets and stuffing wool into them. Great fun, really ^_^ (ok, not at all times, but mostly)

My natural dye experiment with chestnuts, a few berries, and pinecones didn't work out as well as it could have- I forgot to add alum, which would help the dye stick to the fibre. I got a really nice smelling light cream/beige wool though. We've dyed more yarn and cotton squares as a class by now, and the samples all look great (see photo 2). I love natural dyes! It's one of the courses I looked forward to the most, along with friday's class: fabric construction and design.

For that one we have to make a project based on one or more of these words: contain, carry, conceal. And we had to also pick one of three poems but that part doesn't seem as important. In any case, I'm making a backpack. It's going to have one strap that goes across the chest, covered in pockets, and the backpack part is going to be gourd shaped. Trying to use natural or almost natural materials like wool, cotton, linen, though it's hard to find these in second-hand stores. I am also wondering about the best way to design the gourd so that it keeps its shape.

That part isn't something we have to have ready until after next class this week. In the meantime we've been making bow ties, cloth buttons, piping (ye, gods!), loops, and woven strips of fabric. I think I made more than I needed to, hah. (photo 3)

off to read more, and wash some fabric.