I have never used procion dyes before and have decided to dye and print my fabric for a range of jackets with an Asian ottoman theme.

Researching I have found some good tips for using dyes thickened with sodium alginate to paint or print onto fabric by Alyson Provax

Alyson Provax – printmaker and experimental dyer in Portland, Oregon. Her prints are available through Uprise Art, and her work will be shown in Variable States: Prints Now at Upfor Gallery in Portland this spring. Find her at alysonprovax.com

Pattern design – thoughts

• Lino cut printing
• Free hand painting
• Flowers – tulips, roses, hyacinths, carnations pomegranates
• Blues and turquoise, maroon, purple and gold, orange and serene greens

• Central Asian Ikats

• Free machine embroidery
• Simple jacket design – no darts or extra seams
• Loose fitting, comfortable, elegant, individual, colourful, excellent

Materials and equipment

• Procion dyes
• Urea
• Soda ash
• Sodium alginate
• Mask and gloves
• Buckets and plastic jugs, spoons and cups, wooden spoon, lots of towels and cardboard to work on
• Lino cuts, paint brushes
• Fabrics: Cotton/viscose Ottoman rib Siberia natural, Barkweave cotton, Linen/cotton Manetti (Whaleys of Bradford)

Everything is ordered and will be ready to go by next week – watch this space…..