Handpainting Cotton Warps
In this class you will learn how to paint your warps in beautiful lasting colors. These hand painted warps make gorgeous hand woven fabric with color that is hard to duplicate. You will learn how to use Procion dyes, their assists and how to mix stock solutions. From a few basic stock solution colors, you can mix a nice varied palette of colors. We will be using a cold batch method, with no heat required.
Supplies to bring to class:
Notebook, pencil, full apron, latex or vinyl gloves, dust mask, 4-pint sized jars with tight fitting lids, 4-one inch sponge brushes OR large (1 inch) stencil brushes.
WARP: 5/2 bleached, natural or pearl cotton (about 2000 ypp), 3 yards long, 120 ends. Bring the warp tied securely at the cross and at the opposite end, but use loose figure 8 ties for the rest of the warp.
This is a FULL DAY CLASS
COST is $60 plus a $12 supply fee
CLASS TOPICS
THE DYES
1. Procion MX dye - fiber reactive dye - mix to a 1% stock solution
2. Shelf life issues to be aware of
THE ASSISTS
1. Soda Ash - Sodium carbonate, alkali fixative - mix to a 2% stock solution
2. Urea water - a synthetic nitrogen which functions as a humectant - mix to a 15% stock solution. Urea water also increases the solubility of the dyes when making the dye paint
3. Synthrapol - A concentrated wetting agent and surfactant used for scouring fibers prior to dyeing and for scouring fibers after dyeing.
4. Metaphos - Sodium hexametaphosphate, a water softener. If you live in an area of hard water, in order to get bright color, you will need to soften your water. Use it at the rate of .5g/liter of water.
MIXING DYES AND ASSISTS
1. Making color combinations from basic dye stock solutions
FIBER PREPARATION
1. Preparing warps with proper ties
2. Scouring and wetting out
PREPARING THE WORKSPACE FOR PAINTING
HAND PAINTING PROCEDURE
1. Layouts
2. Using paint cups and why
SETTING THE DYES
1. Cold batching
FINISHING
1. Final washing
2. Dye strike, exhaust and no exhaust
WEAVING THE SCARF WARP
Designing on the loom
PLANNING A KIMONO WARP