Discharging Colour on Fabric = Experiment

While I was at Quilt National 2009 (see my report on that trip here) in Ohio, a couple of weeks ago, I was fascinated by some of the pieces on display. Some of the artists used - very effectively - a special technique to create their images, the "discharge" process. When you discharge colour, you remove it from an area, using various chemicals and tools.

Bob Adams, celebrated artist and teacher, has considerable experience with this process. In this video, Bob explains very nicely how you go about discharging dye from fabric:



While it's easy enough to do, Bob clearly explains in his video that safety precautions are a must: use a proper respirator mask and gloves to protect yourself. Personally, it's something I would do outdoors, or under a covered area - like a carport.

In Canada, surface design supplies (including Thiourea Dioxide, one of the discharge chemicals) can be ordered online at Maiwa Textiles or G&S Dye. Maiwa also posts this detailed PDF instruction sheet that gives you the recipes for discharge paste (like the one Bob used in the above video). To find out where you can buy the chemical elsewhere, just Google Thiourea Dioxide.

If you prefer a simpler approach, try this little experiment with a bleach pen, an eraser carved with your motif, and a little bit of dark fabric:

My thanks go out to "Smidgen" who posted the above video on Youtube.

Well, I don't know about you, but it's time for me to go play outside. Later!