CAROL SODERLUND
Carol began dyeing fabric in 1988 when she couldn't find the colors she needed to bring the "vision" of a quilt to life. With her hand-dyed fabric she was able to create the quilt, which subsequently won Best of Show at the 1989 International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas. Since then, dyeing and surface design processes have become an enduring interest for her. As a quilt artist, Carol is known for her use of color to create transparent, luminous, and dimensional effects of great subtlety. Her work incorporates hand-dyed, stamped, stenciled, and discharged fabric in combination with commercial fabrics and many decorative threads. She continues to make quilts, and exhibits them nationally and internationally. Carol is in demand as a teacher of color, fabric dyeing, and machine quilting techniques. She lives in Geneva, New York with her husband, two sons, three boats, and a fabric stash.
Carol's web site: www.carolsoderlund.com
Class review by Janet Steadman of Washington State:
"Everything about Carol Soderlund's Color Mixing for Dyers is positive. I can't think of a single thing that wasn't great. Carol is an excellent instructor. Every aspect of the class was well thought out and presented in a very professional manner. The workshop includes color theory as well as hands-on dyeing experience. The end product of the class is a great book of over 1000 color swatches and the knowledge of how to reproduce the 1000 colors on your own. I would encourage anyone who is interested in dyeing fabric to take this class."
Carol Soderlund and examples of work created in her classes.
Images below: Carol's workshops at the Crow Timber Frame Barn.
TRUE COLORS: DEVELOPING A PERSONAL PALETTE
• Dates: April 28-May 2, 2008
• Level: Beginning to Advanced | Some previous dye experience is helpful but not required
• Zig Zag Sewing Machine: No
• Tuition & Meal Plan: $750
• Materials Fee: $80
• Dye Facility Usage Fee: $25
> Accommodations and meal information
Sorry, class is full! To be placed on waiting list, please send in registration & deposit. If space does not become available, a full refund will be issued.
DESCRIPTION
For the dyer, the many choices of dye colors available can lead to confusion and disappointment in color outcomes. This class will help you choose the pure color that will suit you in developing your own personal palette. Carol has dyed over 80 individual palettes, which she will share with you through slide presentations, discussions, and hands-on dyeing. Brilliant yellows, passionate purples, rich reds, astounding blues and soothing greens as well as necessary neutrals will be yours to mix using Procion MX dyes.
This class will focus on
• developing skill in intuitive color mixing, based primarily on training the eye
• an understanding of the relationship between colors
• understanding warm and cool contrasts
• choosing your personal palette of pure reds, yellow, and blues, from which all hues can be mixed
• how to dye saturated, brilliant colors, and avoid mud when you choose to
• how to create interesting complex neutrals (Bring on the mud puddles!)
• how to shade from value to value and hue to hue
Students will dye up from 8 to 30 yards of cotton (depending on whether one-yard cuts or fat quarter cuts are chosen) using low water immersion techniques. On the first day, we will develop concepts through lecture and discussion, and do some exercises to get familiar with the pure hues. On the days following, we will dye yardage using low water immersion techniques, resulting in both solid-colored and multi-colored cloth and explore the possibilities of layering color to enrich the palette, both through overdyeing and through numerous printmaking techniques.
This class is suitable for all levels of experience, both for those who have had Carol’s class Color Mixing for Dyers, and for those who have not.
SUPPLY LIST (label your own supplies)
While all dyes and fabric needed for up to 8 yards are included in the materials fee, ambitious students may wish to dye larger pieces of fabric, or to use silk, linen, or rayon in addition to the cotton provided. If you think you may wish to do this, bring your choice of pfd (prepared for dyeing) cotton, or your choice of pre-scoured silk, linen, or rayon. If additional dyes are needed, an extra fee will be charged.
• COLLECTIONS OF COLOR:
Begin to collect bits of color that you like, to which you respond strongly. Ads, photos taken by you or others, favorite paintings, calendars, paint chips, fabric swatches, colors singly and in striking combinations. Collect in a file folder or sketchbook.
• CONTAINERS FOR DYEING:
A variety of containers for dyeing will be helpful. I suggest:
Ziploc leftover containers in the 5 cup size
Gladware or Rubbermaid TakeAlong pans, roughly 9" x 13"
2 or 3 buckets, any size from one to 3 gallons
1 box Ziploc Freezer bags, 1 gallon size
• CONTAINERS FOR COLOR MIXING:
A dozen or so 8 oz clear “party” cups for mixing colors
6-8 larger containers such as cottage cheese containers - with lids if possible
Several large white foam meat trays or foam dinner plates
12 plastic picnic spoons
2 quart-size containers for water supply at your table - soda pop or water bottle will do
• TOOLS FOR MARK-MAKING ON FABRIC:
3-4 brushes: foam or “chip” brushes, any size
1 high-density foam roller (These are small diameter, white, and available at home centers)
Stamps, silkscreens, stencils, sponges, or other favorite tools
Flat objects for rubbings - ideas: plastic fencing, dish drainers, flat grids, low relief plastic, metal, or rubber objects such as tile spacers, rubber washers, etc.
• OTHER SUPPLIES:
One set measuring cups and measuring spoons
Rubber gloves, both the loose-fitting (one pair) and close-fitting ones (several pairs)
Old clothes and/or an apron
White shower curtain to cover table for a white work surface
2 plastic dropcloths, at least 2 mil in thickness
Scissors to cut plastic and paper, and scissors to snip fabric
Masking tape
Double stick tape
Sharpie marker
Staples or small safety pins
1 roll paper towels
Notebook and pen
8-10 sheet protectors
Optional: Carol will bring her Thermofax machine, so if you would like to make a screen, bring some black and white images such as high contrast photos, drawings, copyright-free Dover designs, etc. They should be no larger than about 5" x 7".
MATERIALS FEE PROVIDES:
Handouts
All dyes needed, pre-measured in squirt bottles
Auxiliary Chemicals such as soda ash, urea, print paste, synthrapol
Tools for Student use
8 yards of pfd white cotton fabric
DYEING TO DISCHARGE
• Dates: May 5-9, 2008
• Level: Beginning to Advanced | Some previous dye experience is helpful but not required
• Zig Zag Sewing Machine: No
• Tuition & Meal Plan: $750
• Materials Fee: $40
• Dye Facility Usage Fee: $25
> Accommodations and meal information
DESCRIPTION
Discover the possibilities of discharge - the removal of color from dyed cloth. First we will apply base color and then selectively remove and replace the color using immersion with stitched and pole wrap techniques, various resist techniques, as well as stencil, screen printing, and block printing. Students will work toward a vocabulary of personal mark making, using complex layered imagery and color. Fabric samples showing specific dye colors and how they discharge will be produced for both cotton and silk. We will work with both oxidative (bleach) reductive (Thiourea dioxide) discharges. Safe studio practices are emphasized.
SUPPLY LIST (label your own supplies)
• SAFETY SUPPLIES:
Apron + old clothes – new good clothes will likely be old clothes before we are through!
Rubber gloves, both lightweight and heavier dishwashing kind
Respirator equipped with acid gas filter (multi-gas or broad spectrum filter is very good)
- These are available from Pro-Chem and also at hardware stores
• FABRIC:
Black commercial fabric: Bring a selection of 1/2 yard or 3/4 yard pieces, labeled with manufacturer and location of purchase. Pre-wash them at home with hot water and synthrapol or a mild soap. You may also want to bring a black t-shirt or two. In the past, the Hanes brand has discharged for me, but this is not a guarantee!
Note: Not all black fabrics will discharge, and they will discharge differently depending on the discharge agent used. For bleach discharge, you can test a small swatch with a Clorox bleach pen. If you find one that discharges to white or a light tan, you might want to buy a lot of it!
Hand-dyed fabrics—bring some that you have on hand. You do not need to purchase any if you do not have some already. You may want to bring some of the commercial hand-dyed or batik fabrics from Bali. Bring a few yards of each, washed at home in hot water and synthrapol or mild soap. This is a great opportunity to radically change those”dogs” you have dyed. You will be amazed!
At least 5 yards of white pfd cotton. You may also bring linen, silk, rayon or tencel if you like to work with these fabrics.
• DYEING SUPPLIES:
Found objects, foam stamps, etc. for stamping
Any thermofax screens or stencils you love (I will also bring some for class use)
Plastic spreader or screen printing squeegee
Assorted foam brushes, about 6
Cheap paint brushes (sometimes called “chip brushes”)
Foam paint rollers and paint tray or 2 Styrofoam meat trays
Long plastic spoons and short picnic spoons for stirring
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons - Note: If you have taken my Color Mixing class, you may want your smaller graduated cylinders
Six 8 oz. squirt bottles to hold dye
Old towel and 1 yard cheap muslin for press cloth
Dental floss or heavy carpet thread
Hand sewing needles, assorted sizes
Clothespins (plastic is preferable) or binder clips from the office supply store
Rubber bands
Spray bottle (old hairspray bottles are good)
Pairs of objects for clamping (wooden or acrylic shapes, tongue depressors, etc.)
Medium sized clamps (3-6" size works well)
1 box Glad Press 'n Seal wrap
• OFFICE SUPPLIES:
Sharpie marker - fine point
Safety pins or stapler
Double stick tape
Duct tape
Masking tape
Clear page protectors
Three ring binder (1” or 1 1/2” is fine)
Notebook for notes, pencil, pen
Unlined paper for sketching
Fabric scissors and small paper scissors
Snippers if you have them
X-acto knife with sharp blade
Small cutting mat, about 11 x 18 or so, plus rotary cutter and ruler (approximately 6” x 12” suggested)
6-12 binder clips (the black metal clips used in basting quilts, or the smaller 1" size)
- If you are flying, these can be purchased at a local grocery store:
2 lasagne size pans—Rubbermaid TakeAway brand or Gladware
4 Ziploc square containers or bowls with lids, 4 cup size
1 box heavy duty 1 gallon Ziploc bags
- If you are driving:
Iron that steams well, non-stick coating is good
Extension cord
Two 5 gallon buckets
Shibori poles: any you may have, or 2” diameter PVC pipe at least 12” long
4-6 Medium-sized A-clamps (also called pony clamps or spring clamps)
Small wire whisk (can be returned to kitchen...will not be used in dye)
MATERIALS FEE PROVIDES:
All dyes, discharge agents and chemicals, fabric for samples, handouts, and use of Carol's reusable supplies for dyeing and printing
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