Bits of linen and cotton, shibori dyed and block printed stitched to patch an old jacket in the boro style
I found on old color card from years ago that had little 1" x 2" swatches that are perfect to fill in the tiny little areas that pop up around pockets. They're too small to effectively turn under the edges, so I'm stitching them on flat. I figure they'll be sufficiently stitched through to eliminate them coming away at the edges.
Ikat, shibori and block printed cottons patched onto a jacket in the boro tradition
That's the bottom of the jacket, with the inside of the back showing through. I'm still undecided if I'll cover the inside with fabric as well. I'm afraid it might be too heavy for my mild climate, but I still can't decide if I like the brown showing or not. Time will tell.
Pole wrapped cotton dyed in the indigo bath and handstitched onto a boro style jacket by Carlyn Clark
This piece of cotton was one of my first attempts at pole wrapping, known in Japanese as Arashi Shibori. I love the process and have amassed quite a collection of poles of different diameters and lengths to accommodate different widths of fabrics. The Japanese, who have made this process into a very precise art form, typically use narrow fabrics that are pieced together to form traditional kimonos. I am not terribly precise, for now at least, and love the random nature and surprise at the moment I pull the fabric off the pole. I've gotten more disciplined with my oxidizing and rinsing, so I'm now able to get much crisper lines and whiter whites than this piece has. I'm using it here to cover a pocket.
Shibori dyed linen stitched with other patches
I manage to use up even the rough edges of my shibori dyed fabrics. The linen develops a really nice softness in the indigo and the many steps in the process give a nice fringe, which can create quite a mess in the dryer and require a good bit of patience to untangle.
Boro stitched ikat, shibori and indigo dyed scraps by Carlyn Clark
And it's back to piecing. The back is finished, and I've started the front.
Overdyed calico print, patched and quilted with handstitching
I've been gathering up prints that I'm not terribly fond of and giving them a quick dip in the indigo vat. I'm often pleasantly surprised at the outcome. This print had a yellow background. Yellow has never been a color that appeals to me. And green doesn't do much for me either. Apparently, Pantone doesn't agree with me, naming "Greenery" the color of the year for 2017.
Pantone color of 2017, "Greenery"
It's been a while since Pantone picked a color of the year I actually liked. Even they seemed to have trouble in 2016, they picked two. A little too much of the traditional baby nursery for me.
Pantone color of the year 2016, Rose Quartz and Serenity
2015 was a bit dull.
Pantone Color of the Year 2015, Marsala
Radiant Orchid, from 2014, made me think about little old ladies in the 60's.
Pantone Color of the Year 2014, Radiant Orchid
I think I'll just stick with the colors I come up with in the indigo vat.
Pieced, patched, hand stitched jacket back for the Stitch a Day 2017 project
The second month begins and the back is finished! Goal achieved! I celebrated with a bit of decorative stitching. Photos to follow.
Handstitched shibori dyed indigo linen with ikat woven cotton
The first month is complete! And so is the back of the jacket. Tomorrow I'll take a picture of the completed back and then get onto the front. I'm still holding to my general intention of getting it all pieced before I decide how to proceed with the decorative stitching, which is what will hold the whole thing together.
