A while back I had to shorten microfiber drapes that left me with several, 74" x 20" lengths of fabric that I could not bear to throw away. They sat dormant in my fabric stash for several months until I recently had a brainstorm on how they might be used.
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A Microfiber Remnant from Shortened Drapery |
The softness of the fabric was a tactile delight that I thought might feel wonderful wrapped around the neck in a scarf.
After cutting two 7" strips from the microfiber fabric, I soaked the fabric in water and then wadded up each 7" wide length and wrapped a few rubber bands around each clump of fabric.
In a microwave safe
Ziploc container I then mixed up a batch of a
Rit Dye product made for synthetics* in hot water, submerged the fabrics into the dye mix and lightly laid the lid onto the container.
I then placed it into the microwave oven and heated it on high for about 3 minutes and then let it soak for a while. After washing out the dye, the original beige microfiber became a lovely, mottled orange.
Of course, enough never seems to be enough when playing with fabric and color, so I resurrected a stamp that I had made a long time ago.
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Original Leaf Stamp |
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Because I did not want both fabrics stamped with the same color, I picked orange and dark blue
Setacolor fabric paints to use as the stamp colors. I let the fabric dry to the damp stage and then poured the paints on an old, plastic meat tray.
It was time to print the leaf shapes onto the fabric.
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Fabric with Orange Stamped Image |
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Fabric with Blue Stamped Image |
Throughout the entire process, the fabric did not fray but I chose to line at least the orange stamped fabric with a pleasing color satin that I found in my stash of fabrics.
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Satin Fabrics |
I merely laid the stamped fabric face-to-face on a 7" satin strip, stitched around 3 sides, turn it right side out and hand stitched it closed.
This is almost like a vestment stole that clergy wear. It lays flat as it cascades down the chest. I have another color satin ready to line the blue stamped fabric, but I'm not sure if I am going to line this one. Without lining, it will drape loosely and lend itself to a variety of scarf configurations.
* I purchased the Rit Dye from
Michaels; however, is available from some fabric stores and on a variety of on-line sites.
To me, brainstorms are the spice of life.
Always remember, never fear to experiment.
Sometimes wonderful things happen.
© Linda Friedman 2017. All rights reserved