Craft Quilting #12: Spotlight On Beryl Taylor

Take a close look and you will see all of the unusual materials  that Beryl included in her quilt including...

• Buttons – dyed multi colors

• Bamboo Skewers – dyed, cut and stitched to fabric

• Lace & Trims

• Paper Price Tags

• Pearl Cotton – dyed and used for hand stitching

• Raffia – dyed, swirled and stitched into buttons; also stitched in rows

• Silk Fabric Roses

• Tiny Wood Beads

• Variety of Fabrics

• Watercolor Paper – dyed and punched into leaf and flower shapes

 

 

 

 

Finished Size: 12” x 12”

 

 

MATERIALS:

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

 

 

1)  Protect work surface with plastic table cover.

2)  Wearing latex gloves, measure 1 teaspoon Violet liquid dye (shake bottle before measuring) with 1 cup very hot water; stir. Water should be about 140 F. If your tap water is not hot enough, then heat the water in the microwave or in a tea kettle.

Test Dye Color: Dip scrap of fabric or paper towel into dye solution. If color is too dark, add more water. If it’s too light, add more dye.

 

 

3)  Place embellishments to be dyed in shallow plastic dish. Dip lace in warm water before dyeing to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption. Squeeze out excess water. Note: Cotton lace and trims can be dyed separately for special effects.

4) Pour dye solution into a large, shallow dish with the embellishments.

5) Let set for 2 minutes or until dye color is achieved.

6) Remove items and let dry on paper towels. Note: Lace, trims and buttons should be rinsed in cool water and then washed with mild detergent, rinsed and dried. Notice that the various embellishments take the dye differently, creating interesting shades and textures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)  Wearing latex gloves, measure and mix two dye colors.

2)  To help prop up buttons, place small stones in cups on painter’s palette. Pour small amount of each dye solution into painter’s palette cups with small stones.

3)  Immerse half of buttons in dye solution, propped up with stones for a few minutes. Then remove and stand buttons in other dye solution for a few minutes or until desired color is achieved.

4)  Remove buttons from dye and rinse with water. Then wash buttons with soap and water, rinse and dry on paper towels.

 

 

 

1) Using the unused dye solution (reheat in the microwave if it cools down), fold lace and dip half in Violet and half in Evening Blue. Dye solution should be really hot. It only takes a minute. Tip: Place lace in the microwave on high for 2 minutes to be sure the dye fully penetrates the lace.

2)  Rinse lace in cool water until water runs clear. Wash in warm water with mild detergent. Dry flat.

 

 

Dye two 18” squares of cotton fabric for top, back and binding of art quilt. Measure and mix 2 teaspoons Cherry Red dye with several drops of Royal Blue dye and 4 cups hot water. Pour dye solution into small plastic container, immerse wet fabric into dye solution. Cover with plastic wrap and heat in the microwave on High for one minute. Remove fabric and rinse in cool water until water runs clear. Then wash in warm water with mild detergent and rinse.

Other small pieces of printed fabric or sheer fabrics can be dyed separately in a similar manner.

 

 

 

 

 

According to Beryl Taylor, assembling a decorative wall quilt is like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. Begin by selecting one type of embellishment, such as the raffia buttons or the dyed bamboo skewers. Determine how you want to group them as a unit. Stitch them to a layer of fabric or paper. After the units are grouped and stitched, then lay them on the quilt top backed with one or two layers of felt. Move the units around until you are satisfied with the design. Then hand stitch units to quilt top and felt. Quilt back layer is added after all detail stitching is completed and attached with four tufts or ties. Edge of quilt is bound with a strip of dyed fabric and hand stitched in place with dyed pearl cotton.

 

Stop by tomorrow and we'll show you how Beryl makes her fabulous raffia buttons!