BA3B WORKSHOP / SILK VISCOSE VELVET SCARVES & CROSS-DYING In today's workshop, we used silk viscose velvet using illuminating discharge, devore and discharge processes. We were told to use any imagery or inspiration to inspire us for our designs on the scarves. I wanted to incorporate my architectural theme into my scarf, focussing on line and block colour. To begin with, I dyed a length of silk viscose velvet, the velvet side with Silver Grey Dyrect dye and then cross-dyed the silk side with Golden Yellow Acid dye. I have only ever cross-dyed once before, but is a process I hope to become confident in so that I have the ability to create flawless perfectly dyed colours. The beauty of cross-dying allows you to dye silk viscose velvet (and some other fabrics etc) in 2 different colours, which creates for a more interesting fabric piece. Once the velvet had been dyed and dryed, I then began to create interesting marks using my tape technique to block out colour and using open screens to create solid coloured areas using illuminating coloured dyes. I then used discharge to take away colour in certain areas to create a sense of depth. Once steamed and washed, I then used devore paste which takes away areas of the velvet yet keeping the colour. Overall, I have really enjoyed working with silk viscose velvet and using different techniques on it. Cross-dying is a method I will use again in the future for this project. All these techniques and methods I have learnt in todays workshop, I will continue to develop with and become more confident in.
