Saturday, April 18, 2009

Raindrops keep falling on my head...

since Thursday morning. Except for yesterday when it was raining snow (you know that really, really wet kind that feels like slush when it hits you.) They say it's supposed to end today. But in the mean time, it has me thinking of all those rain-related songs...It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring, etc. And it has me thinking I should take a leaf out of Noah's book :)

So isn't it fitting that I finished this?

This was so much fun...I love it!


Rain, Rain, Go Away
The Prairie Schooler, book #139
fabric: 32ct cream Belfast linen
fibers: DMC


Ahhh, I dyed some fabric. Which is sooo much fun! Once you start, you just can't stop!

RIT Dye
L-R (above photo)
Tan 28ct
Dark Brown & Golden Yellow 28ct
Dark Brown overdyed with Tan 32ct
Dark Brown and Golden Yellow 32ct
Cocoa Brown overdyed with Tan 32ct


Melanie (no blog) asked a few dyeing questions. I rinse the dyed fabric in lukewarm water till the water comes out fairly clear (not completely clear.) I gently squeeze the excess out, but it's still usually dripping...and then roll in an old towel. Lay the towel and the fabric out flat till just damp and then iron on another old towel. I have a few old bath towels that I use for this and I just launder them with the rest of my laundry. Ok, so if you're dyeing several pieces of fabric, can you keep using the same towel to roll them in and lay flat? I only do this if the dye colors are very similar, for example if they're all shades of browns. I did that with the fabrics on this post.

I hope I've answered your questions Melanie :) If there are anymore, please feel free to ask and I'll try to answer them as best I can.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and I hope wherever you are the sun is shining. And if it isn't, you can join me, "The sun'll come out tomorrow..."

44 comments:

JillMN said...

I love all of your home-dyed fabbies. I really need to do some of this. If only I could find a good source to get lots-o-fabric at a good price!

Kim B said...

Oh my gosh I love this finish Staci!!! I need to get this chart for myself!!

PS: I love the Hydrangea!!

Siobhán said...

Love your finish, Staci! I keep meaning to stitch that--it's a fitting piece for life in Ireland! ;)

Your home dyed fabrics are wonderful! Can't wait to see what you stitch on them.

Deb said...

Love your Prairie Schooler piece! And also your fabrics are beautiful. I'm interested in what you decide to stitch on them.

Patricia Lessell said...

I love all of your home-dyed fabrics they are all gorgeous gorgeous colors. I always love Rain rain go away , it is one of the cutest charts around but then again I love all PS charts as well as BBD and C&Me etc. etc. etc. Lots of Love Patti xxx

Leah said...

Your fabrics turned out wonderfully. I love the little PS finish...very cute!!

Hazel said...

Beautiful finish and wonderful fabric!! x

glamlawlib said...

Congrats on a great finish! (Usually very appropriate for Wales, but we've had some great weather recently so I can't complain!)

Your hand dyed fabric looks great too!

Julie said...

Those finishes are really sweet and I love your dyeing method ~ very cool!

Melissa said...

I like the way you did the front and the back for Rain Rain Go Away. (If that really works, let me know!)

Lovely dyed linens. I think you're starting a little cottage industry there, Staci! Have a good weekend.

Michele said...

I LOVE, LOVE your Rain, Rain, Go Away. I especially love the "back". How very creative of you. I too finished the "front" piece and wish I had more of the same fabric now to complete another to make a go away like yours. Brillant, simply, brilliant!

Carol R said...

Rain Rain Go Away - agree with this saying - maybe we will have sun tomorrow but you stitched Rain is lovely!

Great dyed fabrics too.

doris said...

Rain Rain is terribly cute, and it fits in perfectly with our weather today.

Your dyed fabrics are inspiring. I can just picture some of my please-stitch-me projects on them.

Sheila said...

Love your Rain Rain piece and your fabrics look great too :)

tkdquintmom said...

Don't forget Singing in the Rain! :-)...love how the hand dyed fabbys turned out. I MUST try this sometime soon.

lena-lou said...

Beautiful front and back for your Rain Rain, love it :)
Have a nice Sunday

Karen said...

Lovely finish, perfect for a rainy day. :)

Love the colours of your hand dyed fabrics, all my favourites.

Myrna said...

Your Rainy day project turned out great! And, your fabrics look wonderful. You are braver than me!

Hope the sun shows up soon...

Anonymous said...

Love your finish Staci! Especially the way you have personalised it! The ribbon on the umbrella is such a nice touch!

Beautiful work with the hand dyed fabbies. They look luscious!

Shari said...

beautiful finish & yes, so appropriate for the rainy weather. I hope your rain went away, like you stitched!!
Your fabrics are AWESOME!!!!! I have tried coffee/tea fabric, but not rit dye. Might have to get some!!!

Cathy B said...

Your dyed fabric is wonderful! Hope all you got was rain - I thought Colorado was getting snow this weekend?

Tammy said...

LOVE your fabbys. Awesome. And your PS finish is perfect! Can't wait to see how you finish that one.

Angela said...

I LOVE your dyed fabbys, they look simply awesome! Very creative back for the PS Rain piece :) I'm wondering how you will be finishing it? Can't wait to see!

Yuko said...

Staci, this PS design is so lovely!
Actually this is in my WIP!
I hope I can finish it really soon!

Your hand dyed fabrics are SO beautiful!!
Those makes me want to dye, too!
But I have no confidence to make such lovely colours!!!
Your's are very beautiful!!!

Theresa said...

This is such an adorable piece!!!! Sorry to hear you are having bad weather there.... I hope it will all go away tomorrow!!
Those hand dyed fabrics are gorgeous!!!! Thanks for the tip!!

Sharon said...

A lovely finish! The fabric looks awesome and I love your tags for them too.

Susimac said...

I love it Staci. Your fabrics too are wonderful

Sherry said...

I just love this finish and want to get it now! LOL! I am so easily swayed by pretty things! LOL.

Love your fabrics too!

Unknown said...

I love your finish! and thank you so much for the info on dying... I have great interest in this ~ been itching to do it. will have to get some Rit.
KimV

Melanie said...

Hi, Staci: Thank you for answering my questions!! I'm looking forward to trying this dyeing method out!

Love the PS piece! Very nice!

Nina said...

Fantastic colors!! I wish I can buy RIT in my place... I must try it :)

Crazee4books said...

Hi Staci,

Have been catching up on all the
wonderful stuff on your blog. I've
been terribly bad about visiting
and not leaving comments lately.

But when I saw that you'd stitched
Rain, Rain, Go Away I had to let
you know how much I love it. This
is such a pretty design, with
lovely colors. I love the little
bow on the handle of the umbrella
on the second square too. Guess
I gotta get this chart too someday
soon. Sigh!

I can understand how you can get
carried away with dying fabric.
The chance to experiment and see
the results with color changes
and color mixing must be simply
irresistible. There's some really
cool results here, and the little
tags that you've added are a nice
touch.

Julianne's Christmas Ornament is
lovely!! The design is kind of
unusual, or should I say unique?
And I like the fabric color that
you chose to use for this. Very
pretty combination of thread and
fabric. The hanging ribbon is
the perfect finish for this. I'm
Julianne is thrilled to have this
little treasure for her tree.

We had a lovely weekend here,
with warm temperatures yesterday
and bright sunshine both days.
But we're in for some rain and
cooler temperatures and strong
winds for the next couple of days
before the nicer weather returns.
Hope your snow showers (Ugh!!)
go away for good and Spring
returns soon for you.

Watch out for the Bay of EVIL!!!!

Cheers!

Jeanie said...

Staci, send the rain over, will you :) It's so hot, hot, hot and humid here. I know now whey we are known as Sunny Singapore :)
Those hand dyed fabrics are gorgeous !! You make dying your own fabris so fun !

Gabi said...

Beautiful stitching Staci. Love that design. And your fabric looks simply lovely.

Margaret said...

Staci haven't you been busy! I love the Rain Rain Go Away - it has been pouring here all day!!!

Anonymous said...

your PS finish is lovely, i love it

your hand dyed fabric is amazing, you're doing a great job. I wish I could find some rit dye iin the shops near me, and I could have a go
is it linen only that you dye or do you dye evenweave too?

Michelle said...

Your finish is soooo cute! I really need to stitch that one.

Nicole said...

Beautiful fabrics Staci! You are getting really good at dyeing! It's addictive isn't it? I like how you tagged them - that's a really cute idea! Rain, Rain Go Away - turned out so cute - I love how you did the back also. I just love that design - it's so sweet! :)

Brigitte said...

Oh my, what a nice little finish. I'm looking forward to see it finished.
Great fabric colours!

Dovilė said...

your Rain, Rain, Go Away is just so cute and lovely:)
and fabrics looks great.

Tracy M. said...

Gorgeous fabrics, great job! The PS turned out beautifully, can't wait to see it finished!

Cindy F. said...

OMG!! What a beautiful finish!!
LOVE IT!!

The Cinnamon Stick said...

Hi....I am new to your blog...and my question about dying is the "overdying" you mention...do you dye it the first color and then redye it with the second color? Not very bright here I know but I love the colors your fabric turned out....Thank you for responding..cinnamonstick@comcast.net

Jackie said...

O..loved the "rain drops keep falling on my head"..the tune is playing in my head now...LOL