Owl on silk with Japanese tsumungi cotton

by Kit on October 30, 2009

in Bird motif,Katazome,Natural dye

Some time ago I began to make some wall hangings with stencils I had previously used for other purposes. I put the project aside because I couldn’t remove the grid lines I had drawn before pasting the stencils. The lines are permanently locked in between layers of soy sizing and pigment dyes. I tried soaking them out in an oxygen-cleaning product and still they persist! If any of you wonder about the permanence of natural pigments in a soy binder, here’s your proof.

the grid lines

the grid lines

Soon after, I found some wonderful Japanese cotton fabric at a favorite treasure hunting spot in Minneapolis, call Indigo. The weave includes a deep eggplant color and golden green. From a distance the piece reads as a rich, deep brown.

traditional handwoven cotton yardage from Japan

traditional handwoven cotton yardage from Japan

I think it will offset the owl image nicely, and the cotton fabric is very close in weight to the silk twill I used for the owl. I am piecing these together and will then construct a pillow.

owl and Japanese fabric pieces

owl and Japanese fabric pieces

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{ 5 comments }

anna lisa October 30, 2009 at 3:51 PM

That is a really nice owl!
The new fabric is quite a find, it will set him off wondefully and I love the way the stripe relates to your stencil pattern
anna lisa´s last blog ..Onesie Spiral My ComLuv Profile

Kit October 30, 2009 at 6:31 PM

Thank you, Anna.

Annie B October 31, 2009 at 5:28 AM

Nice fabric and a great solution.

judith November 2, 2009 at 10:21 AM

What serendipity to find a fabric that is in perfect communion, both in colour and weight, to the owl. They were meant for each other.
judith´s last blog ..images and printing trials My ComLuv Profile

Kit November 2, 2009 at 1:11 PM

yes, I think they were!

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