Want to dye and paint your own fabrics, but don’t know where to start?  This is the book for you, with all the beginner information you need on different types of dyes and paints that you can choose from, the minimal tools and equipment that you’ll need, and some wonderful techniques to get you started!

The Basic Guide to Dyeing and Painting Fabric
by Cindy Walter & Jennifer Priestley

There are dozens of inspiring photos for you to drool over, step by step instructions for 20 different techniques, and even some full-sized patterns if you’d like to make the exact fabric projects that are featured.

To win a copy of this book, leave me a comment below telling me what you like to make with fabric, and next week I will draw a winner!

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Book review and giveaway!!

 The  b5media Lifestyles Channel, of which Quilting and Patchwork is a part, recalls the 1980s for their Theme Day this month.  I’ll reminisce about the 80’s as it relates to my quilting.

At that time I was operating my in-home quiltmaking business, writing a quilt business column for a Quilt World Omnibook magazine (which no longer is published), interviewing quilters for the local newspaper, and learning all I could about this fascinating topic.

Beginnings of my Quiltmaking

Although I first made a quilt with my grandmother, in the 1940s, my quiltmaking business began during the United States’ Bicentennial Years of 1975-76, when my mom needed quilts to sell in her country grocery store.  The lady who made them couldn’t keep up with the orders.  There was a resurgence of quiltmaking during that time with anything quilted and patchwork having great appeal.

The quilts evolved into pillows, table cloths, potholders, placemats, skirts and aprons…in fact, anything in this line.  A write-up about MEA’s Quilts in Yankee Magazine almost overwhelmed me with orders, but was exciting, too. 

Projects that stand out in my mind:

• Missouri Star quilt for one of Mother’s customers
• Patchwork aprons for costumes
• Sunbonnet Sue quilt and pillow shams for a little girl’s bed
• Quilt in Southwestern colors I was asked to design
• Hand quilting two older family quilts
• Quilt order from a prisoner
• Taking a quilt design class taught by Michael James

Quiltmaking…a Family Affair

It’s enjoyable now to see my daughter, Beth Mastin, participating in quiltmaking.  She’s become involved in areas I never tried…such as dyeing and painting fabrics and making fabric for mixed media art.  (Her blog is Meandering Threads, where you can view some of her projects.)

My granddaughter currently is making a Civil War era quilt for a school project with reproduction fabrics of that era.  It shall be interesting to see her finished work.

Did you participate in the Bicentennial quilting and the resurgence of the 1980s?  I’d love to have you share your story here.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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My Quilting in the 80’s

Actually these are some plastic bags of dyed fabrics that are drying.  For more dyeing details from Beth, visit Dyeing Day, at her Meandering Threads blog.

Here are some of the results of Beth’s dyeing activities.

Check out more photos of her colorful fabrics at Dyeing Results.

Additional Posts on Dyeing:

Dyeing Fabrics for Quiltmaking

Results of a Fabric Dyeing Venture

Painting & Dyeing Fabric for Quilting Projects

(Photos (c)2008 Beth A. Mastin)

(Article (c)2008 Mary Emma Allen)

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The Fascination of Dyeing Fabrics

   Do you have favorite books that have helped you with your quilting and fabric art? Perhaps they are instructional. Others may be inspirational.  Maybe they delve into quilting history.  Also, you may read some for pure enjoyment.

These also may change, depending on your current quilting needs and interests. Some of your favorites may be out of print, but if someone searches diligently, they probably can find with a copy.

I asked my daughter Beth (Meandering Threads) what her five favorite books currently are.  She actually came up with six, two by the same author.

1. The Painted Quilt by Linda & Laura Kempshall

2. Landscape in Contemporary Quilts by Ineke Berlyn

3. Hand-Dyed Fabric Made Easy by Adriene Buffington

4. Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface & Stitch

     Creative Quilts: Inspiration, Texture & Stitch both by Sandra Meech

5. Mixed Media Explorations by Beryl Taylor

Let me know what your 5 favorite are and I’ll mention them here.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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5 Favorite Quilting/Fabric Art Books