Some of you may recall my futile attempt at stitched shibori for the Kilauea challenge where I overdyed some orange fabric with black and ended up with a rich brown colour. That was completely the wrong colour for the designated palette but when the Rusty challenge came along, it occurred to me that it would discharge back to orange which might be useful.
Armed with Art Cloth by Jane Dunnewold as a guide, I used cleaning gel to create this discharge design:
I already thought it looked wheat-like (well that was the idea) and made the connection with rust disease. Then I went to a Guild meeting and a friend mentioned that an Australian, William James Farrer (1845–1906) played a major role in developing wheat varieties more resistant to rust disease and to drought. What’s more, he featured on the $2 note in the first decimal series of Australian currency and that note just happens to be a turquoise colour which fits right into the challenge palette.
I’ve started adding colour and texture with stitching but I doubt this will be ready for the Rusty reveal which will start to appear on the Twelve by Twelve blog on 1 November (US time). Fortunately I have two other contenders…
Judy B says
Love this one …. memories of growing up on a farm.
Brenda says
lovely. I like the discharge idea. Rust was a huge problem in wheat on the Canadian prairies in the past too.
Kristin L says
I really like all the serendipitous elements in this like the rust disease and Farrer being on the turquoise colored bill. The stitching is going to look great.
Judy says
Brenda,
Rather like this piece, the brown looks delicious, and the discharge pattern as come out really well.