Just as you get comfortable things change.
A few years ago, after dying a million yards of Kaufman Pimatex, I began to realize that while it is a beautiful fabric, I needed a fabric that was easier to sew and quilt.
Pimatex takes dye beautifully but because of it's structure it is dense and hard to needle if you are a hand quilter and if you are a machine quilter it's hard to repair mistakes if you have to remove stitching. Pimatex is a broadcloth which means it has more weft than warp.
I faced up to this situation and spent a year and lots of money and time sampling other fabrics. I dyed, cut, pieced and quilted many different fabrics. I finally settled on another Kaufman fabric named Prima. This high quality muslin took dye really well and it was less expensive than Pimatex. Due to the 50/50 muslin construction, sewing with this fabric was much easier.
I purchased a number of bolts and used this fabric until last year when Kaufman announced that they would no longer offer Prima. I cried a river....I also quickly purchased as much as I could afford to pay for and store but not nearly as much as I would have liked. I still have a few bolts of this wonderful fabric but I will have to find a replacement soon.
I'm aware of many of the fabrics quilters and surface design artists use in their work but I'd love to hear from YOU about the fabric or fabrics you use and which ones are your favorites.
With that in mind, I'm having a small drawing for everyone who comments relating to their favorite fabric for dying and surface design.
So tell me....
- What is your fabric of choice for surface design and hand dying?
- Who is the manufacturer?
- Where do you purchase your fabrics?
- Have you ever been disappointed in a fabric you purchased for dying? What was the brand?
The name of everyone who responds via the comment box will be put in a "hat" and I'll have my assistant (Tom) draw a name out next Monday to receive a BIG Prize.....OK, maybe not BIG but a nice prize in the form of the Art Quilt Elements 2010 Catalog and a fun assortment of embroidery thread.
I'll be looking to hear from YOU.
I appreciate your spending time at Studio 24-7. Remember, commenting is FREE and your name will go into the hat for the little drawing.
