Project designed by Helen Gibb.
Materials:
Color Hue Instant Set silk dyes
assorted silk ribbons: bias, satin silk, woven
rayon fringe and laces
2 water containers
several small cups
eye dropper for each color of dye
large soft round brush
liner brush
white paper towels
plastic cloth
protective rubber gloves
Getting Started
Cover the table surface with plastic cloth. Set up two containers of clean water; one to clean your brush and one to pre-wet your ribbon. Put a small amount of each concentrated dye in small separate containers. Mix the dyes to the strength you prefer. Start with this rough guideline: Make a medium wash of each dye color, about five drops of dye to 1/3-cup of water in a large container. Make a light wash of each dye color with about 1/3-cup of medium wash mix to 1/3-cup of water. Add more concentrate dye or water as needed. Pre-wet the ribbon just prior to dyeing. Keep paper towels handy for testing color, cleaning your brushes and laying out wet ribbon. Don't be afraid to experiment!
Dip Dying Technique
Dip wet the ribbon into the lightest wash of dye (figure A). Stir continuously for even dying. The longer the ribbon is left in the dye bath, the stronger the color will be. Remove when desired color is achieved (about 30 seconds to 2 minutes).
Edge Dyed Technique
Wet ribbon in clean water. Lay wet ribbon on paper towel. Brush color onto one edge of the wet ribbon (figure B).
Brushed Wet-Into-Wet Technique
Pre-dye ribbon to desired color. Lay wet ribbon on paper towel. While ribbon is still wet, brush on other colors of dye in a random manner (figure C).
Graduated Dying Technique
Dip ribbon/fringe in lightest wash; then dip part of the ribbon/fringe in the next-darkest wash, etc.
Pre-Made Ribbon Flowers Technique
Sew a selection of ribbon flowers using the instructions in Helen's books and the various silk ribbons you have. Pre-wet a flower; then brush on the lightest color of dye in the area you want it (figure D). Darken or shade the flower with the next darker color or another color of dye (figure E).
Resources color hue silk dyes, silk ribbons, laces, and fringingHelen Gibb Design Inc.
Website:
www.helengibb.com
The Secrets of Fashioning Ribbon Flowers: Heirlooms for the Next Generation
by Helen Gibb
Krause Publications, 1998
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Helen Gibb Design Inc.
Website:
www.helengibb.com
Heirloom Ribbonwork
by Helen Gibb
Krause Publications, 2001
Helen Gibb Design Inc.
Website:
www.helengibb.com
Guests Helen Gibb
Author and Ribbon Artist
Helen Gibb Design Inc
For autographed copies of Helen's books, order directly from her web site
Website:
www.helengibb.com Also in this Episode
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