Ikat-Inspired Spinning/Weaving (Dyeing) Project

7/19/2020

The Spring 2020 issue of Spin Off Magazine is host to my spinning, dyeing, weaving project inspired by ikat-style techniques. I know, that's a little bit of everything, right? There is an article that discusses using avocados to dye four different types of fiber while using resists to create patterns in the threads. This culminates in a weaving project planned with handspun yarn that is resist tied and dyed to create a pattern in the cloth. It was SO MUCH FUN to do, but it was a lot of work. I'm not entirely convinced the finished product reflects the efforts to get there, but I love it anyway. It was a beautiful journey.

The scarf was the culmination of skills developed through the article, and I think the magazine did a very nice job of laying out the photos, organizing the pages and showing the cartoon of the ikat-style resists along with the pattern for the scarf. It is really a lengthy process to get from fluff to finished ikat-inspired cloth; but when I reflect on the number of skilled hands and time that goes into true Ikat masterpieces, this project barely scratched the surface of what it is to be truly an Ikat textile.

I think my favorite part of this particular endeavor of mine was that there are so many different parts that might inspire others. With both the article and the project, it could be avocado dye, spinning different types of fibers, resist dyeing, ikat-inspired projects, or just the finished project itself that sparks someones artistic journey. I feel like it is such a lovely way to share an idea, or family of ideas, that a person can really make their own. Some projects do not always lend themselves to this kind of creative flexibility. Goodness, this journey has inspired my own creative bug in a million different directions.

I hope you are able to access the article/project and enjoy all the pages have to offer. I am proud of this work. It pushed me as a fiber artist to really learn more of the many layers that go into a finished project and really more of myself as I deepened my relationship with fiber craft.

2 Comments

Ilene

2/21/2021 06:44:26 pm

This email is to Rachel Simmons. I followed the steps in dyeing with avocado but my color had hardly any of the pink color. I used distilled water for dye bath because I have only hard water here. I'm wondering if it's the avocado type. I used the skin and pits and following the instruction in the magazine. I would like to ask what kind of avocado she used. Thank you.

Rachel link

2/21/2021 08:58:17 pm

Thank you for reaching out! I hope we can solve the problem together. What type of fiber were you working with? I have noticed in the past that I need to use either more avocados or allow for a longer steep when I use plant based fibers. I do not think it should matter that you used distilled water- there are natural tannins in the avocados that should bind your color to your fiber regardless your water. I used Hass avocados from the grocery store- nothing special. Some were big, some were little, some were organic, some were not...it was really whatever Aldi had when I was shopping. I was thinking perhaps you could increase the number of avocados in your dye bath, perhaps there just were not enough for the amount of fiber in the pot. Lastly, I did find it helpful to allow the avocados to steep overnight and to allow the fiber to cool in the dye bath- it produced the best results on my threads. Please let me know if any of this was helpful; I am more than happy to keep trouble shooting this with you until you get the results I know you can! Also, do not be afraid to throw the fibers you've already dyed into a new dye pot. I would hate for you to feel like you've wasted resources.

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Ikat-Inspired Spinning/Weaving (Dyeing) Project

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