I know its been some time since my last post, but I am happy to say that the time has been spent well busy especially in making new scarves. Delighted furthermore I am to say that it is a market stall that I have been focusing my energies towards the preparation for. It is on the 21st April at the Designers / Makers Market, Old Spitalfields Hall, London, E1 6EW so if you happen to be around intentionally or unintentionally do drop by for the first ever Entanglewood market stall!
I have been asked by those who have seen my work how it is that I make these botanically dyed scarves. So I have decided to show you. Perhaps you may find that process just as fascinating as I do. Recently I experimented and with much success, a different style for silk scarves than the one I was doing before. I am still looking for a appropriate name for the collection. Do let me know if you have suggestions.
The Making of a Scarf:
The materials used were onion skins, purple passion fruit skin and Annatto seeds. Annatto is derived from the seeds of the achiote trees of the tropical and subtropical regions around the would and is commonly used as food colouring.
1) First, a square piece of silk was folded, layered with the onion skins and passion fruit skins then tied it into a bundle with some string.
2) The bundle(s) the get some time in simmering water with annatto seeds.
3) Out of the hot dye water and cooling for some time. A perfect opportunity to take some photos (to distract from the impatience of really, really wanting to open them, now!). The scarf in mention is the on on the left in this photo.
4) Unstrung!
5) The unfolding!
6) ta-da! Oh the joy!
7) Then the scarf is then washed, dried, ironed and the edges finished by hand.
8) Now it's ready to wear!
And here are some others using the same process.
