I'm working on a module at college currently which involves trying out LOADS of different textile print and construction techniques. I had all my samples so far laid out before me for a group crit today so took the opportunity to take a few pics. I'm really enjoying my colour palette, it only took a week to choose and finalise it!! I'm getting a strong Scandinavian feel from it, which I love, so I'm going with the flow and sticking with the natural fabrics and muted tones.

This weekend I've been trying my hand at shibori:

I've used Dylon hand dye in Jeans blue to get that indigo effect. Interesting to note the difference in shade depending on the fabric. The darker shades are a pure cotton while the lighter ones are a polyester/cotton.



















While I had a dye bath on the go I decided to try something I've not done in years and make a hooky mat sample. In the past I've used strips of waste fabric or pre-cut wool strands but decided to try something different. I bought an old white t-shirt from a charity shop and cut it into 2cm x 12.5cm strips and added them to the dye bath. Then I tumble dried them and they came out like this:

 

And after a couple of hours hooking:

 

I love the way the fabric has curled into tubes and the colour is a beautiful soft indigo.

Another project over the last week has been a pair of soft leather shoes for my beautiful new niece Sofia.

I designed and made the patten to fit her foot size then hole punched and hand stitched the leather and embellished with lilac and a perfect contrasting turquoise bead.

 

Current Home Project

This is my current project - granny square blanket. There's some way to go..... ideally  I'd like it to be  20 x 20 squares so only another 391 to go depending on what runs out first, the yarn or my patience....

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Hi, my name is Jo and I live in Newcastle upon Tyne in England. I am a dressmaker, designer, crafter, maker, aspiring textile designer/artist studying at Newcastle College, textile collector, wife, mother of two feisty boys and food and hospitality  supplier to a range of other critters. All of which makes me sound like a good juggler too. 

With this blog I hope to share some of my experiences on my journey through my studies and other projects too. I'm currently feeling extremely energised and enthusiatic about my studies and have spent the week choosing a colour palette for my next two months of work. Here's what I've chucked down from the attic to work with:

And here are a few of the inspirational images for my colour palette:

 

 I really love a muted colour palette but I'm going to add a 'pop' of coral I think to brighten things up here and there.

Watch this space for developments.....