JAN MYERS-NEWBURY

Jan is known for her lyrical, geometric, pieced quilts using shibori fabrics of her creation. She has exhibited her work internationally, been included in 12 Quilt National exhibitions, and in 1993, received Quilt National's Best of Show award. In addition to having over 200 quilts in corporate and private collections throughout the U.S., her work is held in the permanent collections of the American Craft Museum, Museum of the American Quilters Society, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Minnesota Historical Society. In 1999, her quilt, Depth of Field: A Plane View, was selected as one of the 20th Century's 100 Best Quilts. That same year she was a featured presenter at the Third International Shibori Symposium in Santiago, Chile. An instructor for over 25 years, Myers-Newbury is an active member of the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh (the sponsoring organization of Fiberart International) and serving on the board of directors of the Surface Design Association from 1999-2005. She currently confines her teaching to "workshops in places where she really wants to teach!"

Images: Jan Myers-Newbury, examples of her work, and classes at the Crow Timber Frame Barn.

DEPTH OF FIELD SHIBORI

• Dates: October 26-30, 2009
• Level: Beginning to Advanced | Must have some previous experience with Procion MX dyes
• Zig Zag Sewing Machine: Yes
• Tuition & Meal Plan: $770
• Materials Fee: $25
• Facility Usage Fee: $25
> Accommodations and meal information

DESCRIPTION
Participants will be combining multiple layers of pattern and coloration to achieve fabrics that exhibit an amazing depth and luminosity. The basics of patternmaking by means of binding, clamping, stitching and pole-wrapping will be covered quickly. It takes a brave heart to put that gorgeous fabric into yet another dyebath... but oh, the places you go!

Our emphasis will NOT be on finished quilts. As the week progresses we will explore compositions with these fabrics - relationships that will guide further dyeing. Every dye bath becomes a revelation.

SUPPLY LIST (Please label your own supplies)
• Sewing machine used. Bring everything you need for machine sewing, and for cutting fabric (both scissors and rotary cutter and equipment).
• If it is at all handy for you to bring a good steam iron, please do so. A couple of “table-type” boards would be helpful. Bring one if you have one, and it is convenient to do so.
• Bring extension cord/s.
• Notice that there is no batting on this list. We will be concentrating on making tops, and will discuss quilting possibilities and finishing techniques.
• If you have already collected dyeing supplies, and you are arriving by car, bring as many 3-5 gallon buckets as is convenient; bring your mask, spoons, cups, etc.

For dyeing bring:
• Rubber gloves and old clothes to wear most of the time. Obtain Playtex-type household gloves that come at least 4-5” beyond your wrist. (Surgical-type short gloves are NOT OK.)
• At least one 18” - 24” length of plastic PVC (plumbing) pipe for arashi shibori (pole-wrapping). This can be any diameter up to 4 inch diameter. DO NOT BRING LENGTHS LONGER THAN 24”. They can help you cut it where you buy it. Home Depot now sells precut 24" lengths.
• Any clamping devices that you locate around the house, or that you wish to buy and bring (C-clamps, bulldog clips, large squeeze clamps, clothes pins, etc.).
• Nylon braided or coiled rope of a substantial diameter (1/2” or more), bring a 3’-4’ length.
• An assortment of paint brushes if you have some.
• Assorted needles and thread for hand-sewing; thimble if you use one.
• Scissors & seam ripper.
• String and rubber bands, assorted.
• An INDELIBLE black fine point marker (Sharpie) for marking your fabrics.
• Large Tyvek envelope (can be “used” - i.e. received in the mail).
• 4 yogurt containers (small or large).
• 4 plastic spoons.
• 4 plastic dry cleaner bags IF YOU HAVE THEM. DO NOT BUY. Jan will bring some.

FABRIC:
Bring at least 20 yards of PFD (Prepared For Dyeing) fabric.
I cannot stress enough that this MUST be PFD fabric.
The workshop is designed for dyeing COTTON, not silk.
There are several possibilities: unbleached muslin (cheapest), bleached muslin, print cloth, Kona cotton, pima cotton. If you Google “PFD Fabrics” you will come up with thousands of sources. I have bought muslin at Joanne, made by RocLon corporation - and it CLEARLY says Prepared For Dyeing on the bolt end. Personally, I do not recommend pima cotton. It dyes beautifully but is difficult to piece and quilt.

SCOURING PFD FABRICS
PFD means “Prepared For Dyeing”. In theory these are ready to go without any further treatment on your part. HOWEVER, I feel that you can insure the BEST results by scouring the fabric - even PFD fabric - before dyeing it. I have on many occasions seen PFD fabrics that, after tie-dyeing, have isolated areas that did not take the dye properly. The best way I can describe the phenomenon is that there are areas into which the dye did not “flow”, or the boundary between a dark and a lighter area is too distinct, not subtle. (If you’ve seen this, then you know what I’m talking about). This problem can nearly always be eliminated by scouring (pre-washing) the fabric in HOT water with 2 T. Synthrapol and 2 T. soda ash before dyeing. I usually cut mine into 2-yard lengths.

The best way to dry these fabrics is to hang them on a line. This avoids a lot of the wrinkles you’d get by putting them into the dryer. If you put them into the dryer, you will probably be inclined to iron them flat, and this is NOT GOOD either. Pressing the fabrics can, I believe, flatten out and/or close up the fibers, again creating a situation where the dye molecules have more trouble finding the dye sites.

DO NOT PRESOAK YOUR FABRICS IN SODA ASH SOLUTION. This is not the way we work in my class. Fabric should be clear of all chemicals.

MATERIALS FEE PROVIDES:
Dyes, salt, soda ash and detergent.

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