Color Your Cloth

I started following Malka Dubrawsky's blog, A Stitch In Dye, after I happened upon a photo of this quilt on her flickr stream.  At first glance, I gasped.  The colors are so vivid and the pattern is so interesting - there was nothing about this quilt that I didn't like.  After a moment or two of gazing, a few of those fabrics looked familiar.  Upon closer inspection, I realized that she didn't piece those circles into those squares.  The fabrics were dyed!  A whole world of possibility opened before my eyes.  Dyeing printed fabric?  Wow.

How did she do it?  Well now I know, and so can you.  Malka's new book, Color Your Cloth, A Quilter's Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago.  In the first part of the book, Malka explains in depth the how's and the why's to wax resist and over-dyeing fabric.  In the second part, she shares directions for projects that she has made with fabric she had dyed and patterned herself.  And her fabric is fantastic - crisp, bold colors that really pop and make me want to run out and buy dyes and experiment a little myself.  If only the holidays weren't right around the corner.

 

Lucky enough for me, Malka sent me a stack of her hand dyed and hand patterned fabrics to play around with.  I knew instantly that I wanted to combine the prints with something neutral so they could really sing.  I grabbed some linen, my ruler and rotary cutter and got to work.  More than a hundred triangles later, I started sewing.

I went with a zig zag pattern that I sewed to a rectangle of linen to make placemats.  I used solid linen on the back and cotton batting in my quilt sandwich.  I sewed the three layers together leaving an opening and then flipped it right side out then quilted it.  I love the way the crisp cotton contrasts with the soft linen.  The colors stand out against the neutral ground and the piecing takes a pattern that was already interesting and adds another dimension to it.  And the finished placemats look great on my table.

I highly recommend Malka's book if you are looking for more information on dyeing and patterning fabric or if you just want a good dose of inspiration.  The sewing projects include small items like coasters and totes and larger endeavors like quilts.  Malka has an etsy shop where she sells her fabrics and sewn items.  Her book can be purchased from etsy as well or on Amazon.

Malka has generously offered a copy of her book to one of my readers.  If you'd like a chance of winning, please leave a comment on this post before Friday, November 20th at 12:00 p.m. EST.  I will use the random number generator to pick a winner.  Good luck!

Comments

[Andrea]

I'd love a chance to win this great looking book!

[Jennifer]

It sounds fascinating, oh if only there were more hours in a day.

[Bridget]

I'd love a chance to win. Looks like it has some great projects to help get through a gray winter!

[Julie Alvarez]

I loved Malka's work for a while now, since I first purchased a fabulous pillow from her. That got me going with the sewing and quilting.
I can't wait to have her book! Maybe I get picked by Mr. Random this time...

[Heidi]

That book looks fantastic! I love the placemats you made.
Making my own batik fabric sounds like such fun.

[Jenny]

Would love to own this book, thanks for the chance, and for opening my eyes!

[Meredith]

What a lovely looking book and I can always use a dose of inspiration! Thanks for the chance to win it.

[karen]

Your placemats are absolutely beautiful. I too love Malka's designs and got her book a few weeks ago. Its so well written and the instructions so clear. I read it front to back the first night! I can't wait to try my own.

[Belinda Harris]

Thanks for a great giveaway. I never been brave enough to attempt dyeing fabric but it is something I have always wanted to try ;)

Bel x

[Celeste]

Great-looking is right--what fun!

[Paloma]

wow!! I've been looking at her pictures, her work is amazing. Those placemats are beautifu!! If I don't get it in your giveaway I'll definitely added to my wish list.

[~Michelle~]

I would love to win this book, if only to gaze in awe at the eye candy inside! ;)

[Christie]

I love your place mats

[Lindsey]

I'm just DYING to start quilting. I don't have a space for myself right now but I'm hoping after the holidays to fine a nitch in my house to carve out a sewing corner.

[sandra]

the book looks REAllY GREAT! i would LOVE to win

[Christie]

Looks like a wonderful book! I love your placemats, too :)

[Jeni]

i want! i need! thanks for the giveaway!

[lookwhaticando]

This book looks amazing....I love it. Thanks Erin :)

[Becky]

Wow! What a creative variation to "regular" fabric. Your placemats look great!

[Mary Jo, Five Green Acres]

OOOh - that concept really opens up the fabric possibilities!

[Angela]

Ohhh! That quilt is really interesting, I would love to read that book. Those placemats are beautiful!

[molly]

yes please! and i love your pretty new placemats. happy thanksgiving!

[Trisha]

That looks like a great book. I love your placemats and the way you imitated the zigzag with your quilting.

[emily]

the placemats look fabulous! you rock.

[Nichole]

I'd love a chance to win. Pick me! I think this is going on my christmas wishlist just in case I don't win. ;)

[Weedwacker]

What awesome placemats! I would love to win the book!

[Caron Mosey]

Oh how exciting, and what a great book! I need that, please include me in your drawing.

[Vane]

Wow, amazing! Thank you both for the generous offer!

[[email protected]]

This whole process is very intriguing to me...and I love that circle quilt of hers, as well. thanks for the post. a lot of people are posting about her book and it's making me more and more curious!

[sarah]

oh you're right, if only the holidays weren't right around the corner. But looks like great winter project inspiration! lovely work erin!

[jesse]

I hope to win... I got to do wax resist my senior year of high school and it was so fun! Thanks Erin for another great give-away.

[jessica]

That books looks like a winner for sure--perfect to fill my crafty days during the winter! I do love your placemats!

[Karen]

Her fabric's are amazing!!! I would love a chance to win this book and attempt to create some cloth beauties.

[whit]

drooling..... just think of the wonderful clothes you could make for children with that kind of cloth!

love the fabrics and the project you did.

i'm speechless otherwise.
Thanks for the opportunity to win

[Candice]

The fabric is gorgeous! I would love a chance to win a copy of her book. Thank you for this opportunity!

[andrea]

Do I dare try this?!! I think I can!

[Jenny]

Wow, how inspiring! I'd love to win this book and get to craftin'. Thanks!!
Jenny

[tracy]

Oh, wow, gorgeous! Those fabrics on your placemats really pop! Thanks for introducing me to Malka and her new book.

[Joscelyn]

Ive had a fasination with batiks and hand dyed fabrics for awhile now, this book looks amazing!

[Amy]

omg I have so been wanting this book and have it on my Christmas list. I have admired her fabrics for a long time as well. Would scream like crazy if this arrived on my doorstep!! :)

[Ann]

Thank you so much for a chance to win...love your blog and the inspiration it provides...

[Marcia]

Very pretty, Erin! Love the linen with the bright print.

[Stacy T]

Love the linen/print together!! Such a great way to dress up a solid!

[mj]

Your placemats look great!

[Myra]

I would love a chance.
[email protected]

[Sara]

Sign me up!

[Amanda]

Oh my. I would love to learn more about this process. Thanks!

[Kristin]

Beautiful placemats! And what an inspiring sounding book!

[candace hudgens]

I would love a chance to win the book! it looks awesome!

~candace

[Olivia]

Looks like a lot of inspiration to be found in that book!