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Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Creating with Brenda Gael Smith

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Dyeing to Stitch DVD Giveaway

28 November 2011 Filed Under: Technique:Dyeing 54 Comments

Regular readers will know that I love to dye my own fabrics and to incoporate them in my quilts. However, my first introduction to dyeing was not very promising. I only had some rudimentary instruction notes and a hazy understanding of the chemistry. The results were washed out and insipid. How different it would have been if I had been working from Candy Glendening’s new Dyeing to Stitch Workshop DVD produced by Interweave as part of the Quilting Arts Workshop series.


In this comprehensive guide to creating colourful fabric art, Candy takes us through all the steps of her dyeing techniques. Breaking down the steps in a very user friendly way, she shows us exactly how to measure, mix and dye using the same low water immersion method that she uses to dye all of her fabrics. Candy provides the recipe to create her jewel-toned colour pallete that can be used to create single-hue fabrics or Candy shows you 6 different ways to dye multicolor fabrics. Here’s a preview on the mysteries of “scrumbling”:

As her day job, Candy teaches biology at the University of Redlands. Not surprisingly, she applied some scientific rigour to her quest or the perfect chartreuse. On the the DVD, Candy talks about colour theory and shows us her “Candiotic Table of Elemental Color”. There are no drab dishcloth grays here!


Finally, Candy demonstrates free motion machine sketching that can be incorporated into all kinds of fabric art.

Candy is offering one of my lucky blog readers a chance to win their own copy of Candy’s Dyeing to Stitch DVD! Just leave a comment before 3 December when I will give the random number generator a whirl to pick the winner. THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED And, if you miss out here, there are other opportunities to win a copy of Candy’s DVD. Follow the tour and visit the other blogs listed below!

  • Wednesday, 30 November – Amy Webb of Amy Lou Who Sews
  • Friday, 2 December – Robin Ferrier of Simply Robin
  • Tuesday, 6 December – Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt
  • Thursday, 8 December – Beth and the gang from Sew Mama Sew

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alison says

    28 November 2011 at 3:25 PM

    Love Candy’s colours and her style!

    Reply
  2. Del Soden says

    28 November 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Wow! I would so like this book!
    Especially if it would let me make a tee shirt like yours!
    Yes please, yes please.
    My quilty buddy and I are dying to get into dying!
    LOL
    cheers
    Del Soden

    Reply
  3. Denise says

    28 November 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Just in time…chartreuse is my new favorite color! Denise

    Reply
  4. Debbie M says

    28 November 2011 at 5:48 PM

    Candy’s colors really are delicious! Maybe this will get me back into dyeing. Thanks for counting me in, Brenda.

    Reply
  5. Robyn says

    28 November 2011 at 7:26 PM

    This is on my Christmas wishlist. Dyeing is on my summer to do list. Thanks for offering this to one lucky winner. Robyn

    Reply
  6. Leah says

    28 November 2011 at 7:31 PM

    What a wonderful ‘table’ of colour – I think I want it as a tshirt!

    Reply
  7. Maree Schroder says

    28 November 2011 at 8:17 PM

    Love the bright colours and the preview DVD looks really good. Have not tried dyeing but it definitely is on my things to do list!

    Reply
  8. Stephanie from Perth says

    28 November 2011 at 9:11 PM

    I usually have problems with red so a helping hand would be greatly appreciated thanks Brenda and Candy

    Reply
  9. Effie says

    28 November 2011 at 10:30 PM

    Thanks for the great giveaway! I’m totally loving that beautiful table of elemental colour!

    Reply
  10. Dianna says

    28 November 2011 at 11:03 PM

    Yes, Yes, Yes, I am fascinated with the process of dyeing, though I have not done any to date. I would love to have the opportunity to win this fab book. Thank you:) Dianna

    Reply
  11. Kay says

    28 November 2011 at 11:23 PM

    This sounds great! I think I’m finally brave enough to give this a try.

    Reply
  12. anne carter says

    29 November 2011 at 12:17 AM

    I love Candy’s fabric art and her colours are mouth watering!

    Reply
  13. Em says

    29 November 2011 at 12:37 AM

    Your art is just beautiful. I was directed from Candy’s blog and I am so happy I stopped by.

    Reply
  14. Sharmond says

    29 November 2011 at 3:26 AM

    Thanks for opportunity to win Candy’s DVD, and enjoying the introduction to your blog.

    Reply
  15. Claire says

    29 November 2011 at 3:45 AM

    Hi–I’d love to win this! Thanks for offering it.

    Reply
  16. Joyce says

    29 November 2011 at 4:58 AM

    I would love to win. Such beautiful colors you achieved.

    Reply
  17. Leslie C says

    29 November 2011 at 5:35 AM

    So glad I am following this blog tour with so many new sites to enjoy. I Would love to win Candy’s DVD, and hope I do(!) so I can begin a new journey into creating my own hand-dyes. Thank you!

    Reply
  18. Shelly says

    29 November 2011 at 5:44 AM

    This DVD give away has been a great way to discover interesting new blogs. Thanks to Candy for coming up with this clever treasure hunt.
    I would love to win the DVD. I do more dyeing in the winter, I love to snow dye too.
    Thanks again, Shelly

    Reply
  19. MarciaW says

    29 November 2011 at 8:46 AM

    Candy’s DVD would inform me about colors, an area that I need to expand to improve my quilt making knowledge. The blog hop tour is a fun way to learn about Candy’s work and the DVD itself. Thanks for the chance.

    Reply
  20. Karin på Ösäter says

    29 November 2011 at 8:47 AM

    I would sooo much want to win this DVD!!!!, hopefully I learn to make fantastic colours on my fabrics to. I keep on trying.

    Reply
  21. Bonnie says

    29 November 2011 at 8:58 AM

    What an education this would be! I’m sure there are oodles of techniques and plenty of inspiration there. It’s fun to see the blogs I’ve never visited before, too.

    Reply
  22. Kathy says

    29 November 2011 at 9:15 AM

    I have been dyeing fabric for about 2 years now and still have so much to learn. I have just started snow dyeing again this winter (my favorite dyeing method) as there is no shortage of snow here this time of year. Thanks for the chance to win Candy’s DVD!

    Reply
  23. Sharon Agresto says

    29 November 2011 at 10:08 AM

    I would love to win a copy of Candy’s DVD. I have been a fan of her work for sometime and would love to learn how to dye fabric. You’ll have to excuse me now… I’m off to explore your website. 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to own this DVD.

    Reply
  24. Evelyn says

    29 November 2011 at 11:33 AM

    This DVD will help me learn to dye fabric without reinventing the proverbial wheel.

    Reply
  25. Salley says

    29 November 2011 at 11:40 AM

    Well I wont be able to explore the delights of snow dyeing but would love to try any other methods! Any one who can do chartreuse is a maestro. Thanks for the chance B.

    Reply
  26. Karen says

    29 November 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Looks like a great DVD, thanks for the chance.

    Reply
  27. Kristin McNamara Freeman says

    29 November 2011 at 1:28 PM

    What a great approach to dyeing fabric! I would love to have this DVD in my collection.

    Reply
  28. Sandie says

    29 November 2011 at 2:01 PM

    I have been collecting inks and fabric paints, and things to mark with to try dyeing, and this DVD would tickle my fancy. Thanks

    Sandie

    Reply
  29. Meg says

    29 November 2011 at 2:06 PM

    Hi Belinda,
    Thanks for the chance to win this DVD. I am about to try dyeing some fabric for an online course – my first ever attempt, which is probably going to be quite interesting. Maybe this DVD would reduce the ‘interesting’ to a manageable level!

    Reply
  30. Nancy says

    29 November 2011 at 4:40 PM

    What beautiful fabrics. I would love to win a copy of Candy’s DVD, so I can make them myself!!

    Reply
  31. Joanna Price says

    29 November 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I enjoy experimenting with dye and surface design. Would love to win a copy of this new DVD! Thanks.

    Reply
  32. Judy Warner says

    29 November 2011 at 11:18 PM

    That is a great DVD excerpt. Makes me want to try it. Hope that I win the DVD so I can learn more!

    Reply
  33. janice says

    29 November 2011 at 11:58 PM

    What beautiful colors and I love the chart. Would love to win this.

    Reply
  34. Madonna says

    30 November 2011 at 2:57 AM

    It would be wonderful to have this DVD on dyeing. Adding color to my winter projects would be grand

    Reply
  35. Cathy T says

    30 November 2011 at 3:08 AM

    Would love to win the dvd. I have a new surface design group and would share it with the girls.

    Reply
  36. Marie-Paul Dumortier says

    30 November 2011 at 4:12 AM

    would love to start with dyeing and will need some help. So a dvd from Candy would be a great help. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  37. Leslie McNeil says

    30 November 2011 at 8:50 AM

    I AM IN LOVE with the brilliant color. This is on my ‘LIST!” And Thanks for the CHANCE!

    Reply
  38. Lin Wilson says

    30 November 2011 at 9:51 AM

    Wow! Candy’s book sounds amazing. Thanks Brenda for this offer.

    Reply
  39. Helen says

    30 November 2011 at 12:00 PM

    My dyeing efforts so far have been a bit hit and miss. I’d love to win the DVD to improve them especially now that summer has arrived with great dyeing weather.

    Reply
  40. gatheredthreads says

    30 November 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Wonderful! Thank you for the opportunity.

    Reply
  41. Mart Meadows says

    30 November 2011 at 12:26 PM

    I would love to win this dvd. Her hand dyed fabrics are beautiful!

    Reply
  42. candy says

    1 December 2011 at 1:17 AM

    Love your website/blog. Thank you for the opportunity to get the DVD. Hope….

    Reply
  43. Tesuque says

    1 December 2011 at 8:28 AM

    I visited this blog because of Candy’s DVD giveaway, and got caught up in the shibori tutorials.

    Reply
  44. all8garden says

    1 December 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Giving this a try would sure brighten the winter up considerably. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply
  45. Kathy says

    2 December 2011 at 9:11 AM

    I would love to win this instructional video. The hand dyed fabrics are so incredible!

    Reply
  46. Sophie says

    2 December 2011 at 10:36 AM

    I love Candy’s work and would be a very, very happy recipient of her book. Like you, most of what I know about dyeing and patterning fabric was learned through trial and (many) errors. I was recently “rolled off” a project and now that I’m in job-hunting mode, all planned purchases have been moved to “wish list” … sigh.

    Reply
  47. Bronwyn Gosling says

    2 December 2011 at 2:21 PM

    Having discovered solids would now love to create my own.

    Reply
  48. Mademoiselle Slimalicious says

    3 December 2011 at 1:45 PM

    Not sure if it’s too late to enter your giveaway…but just in case you haven’t drawn a winner yet, please count me in!
    I’ve used dyeing before and didn’t always get satisfying results, I would like to learn more about it.

    Reply

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When I was invited to teach a four-day workshop at the Australasian Quilt Convention (9-12 April 2026), I jumped a the opportunity to share a deep dive into one of my favourite subjects - abstract design. In “Riffing with Repetition”, we will be exploring how repetition contributes to unity and rhythm and makes our work sing. Whether you are liking to loosen up, think differently or stretch you creative muscles, this workshop will spark new ideas and help you find your rhythm using your preferred techniques and materials. 

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