Discharge Day Results

It's not often I discharge, maybe once a summer. This time I've older dyed fabric (first three on left), previously discharged fabric (fushia w/large circles) and prints in multicolors. The results were fascinating. I was using screens and rubbings. Screens held my interest the most. All here are washed.
 

Discharge Day

The perfect day to get together with a friend at her house by the lake and discharge fabrics. We're using predyed or printed fabric with bleach cleaner products. I've tried screens and rubbings, and at this moment my fabrics are in the wash Best with natural ventilation, and the view certianly helps!
 

Fair Weather Discharge

A piece that was discharged (had been bleached to remove some of the dye) last summer came back around  this week for more. I've used some of the same imagery used in print, so these discharged fabrics should relate well. Can't wait to pick two and try out a design.

Moon Behind the Fence

The moon appears through a chain link fence behind my house, between branches, ivy, and brambles. This piece is now finished. Thought you'd like to see it. 

Try Again

Another iteration. Something that happens a lot on this wall. But not for long.

There Seems to Be a Draft

Here's what came about next on the design wall. Not what I planned to work on, but this jumped the line. So, another moon, I see. Must be in the air.

Back to Backing

One of my favorite things I do in the summer is getting together at a friend's barn to discharge fabric. We have a ball, slop around bleachey things, and I go home with a pile of great "printed" fabric. This is the back of my moonscape quilt, ready to face.

More Discharging

I rediscovered a stencil I'd cut with a friend's Silhouette cutter, and here I've dabbed some Softscrub in the crosses. It takes a minute for the bleach to react, then I'll rinse and plunge in a bucket of water to which I've added Anti-Clor to stop the bleach reaction.

Dye Day

 A group of friends gets together each summer for 'dye day' but for me it's 'discharge'. Each year I find new ways to bleach, and the yards work their way to the next project. Wouldn't think they would, but they do. Thanks, Bev, for having us out to your barn.

Joys of Bleach

Hadn't occurred to me that layers and layers would surface when using different bleaches and at different times. It's compellingly complex, but easy to make. This from Saturday's discharge day.

Work Day / Play Day

Two groups, the Peeps and the Divas, met today at Bev's house to do some discharge and try printing with textile paints. Yards and yards were bleached, stamped and printed. What a way to spend the perfect breezy August day, and return home with a pile of fascinating cloth.

Not For Tomorrow's Sale in Syracuse

My table will be set with fabrics that I have made at the "Best Little Quilt Show in Town" that the Twilight Stitchers is putting on in Brewerton (Syracuse) New York tomorrow. But not these. They are from my discharge-at-the-barn-with-Bev day. I'm just not finished with them yet.

Discharge and Distill

Bev's barn is the perfect place to spray fabric with bleach and see the color fade out. It was a swell summer's day, and I had lots of fabric to use. And, a good way to end the work week. Now to throw it all in the wash.

Now for Discharging

Discharging (which should mean "returning things that were charged to get store credit") refers to taking the color out of the fabric. The reaction comes after it dries and I iron it. Here I am adding discharge paste to a piece that I have bleached. Will see what comes of it.

Stamp On

A detail shot of Pink Leaf 5 shows the stamping of those soft triangles. I think I cut a lino to use, and inked it with fabric paint. I stamped it after it was pieced. That black and brown is discharged fabric, using branches as the resist.

A Little Help from a Friend

Aafke, our hostess for a day of discharge this week, is getting a bit of aid from her daughter.  Polka dots were added to her fabric with a cardboard tube end dipped in SoftScrub. Great idea, and after she soaks the fabric in anti-clor,  she will have some fun fabric to use.

Discharge Like You Mean It

Marcia Murphy tackles a large piece (why be small?) to discharge. Might be cut apart to be part of a great tote bag. Who knows? Part of day #2 fun in the studio.

Discharge Day

It was a blast to get together with friends today and try out discharge paste. I screened it on my hand-dyed fabric, and let dry. Ironing brought out the "bleaching out" properties of the paste, and now I have more fuel to fire up some art quilts. Many thanks to our fearless leaders Nancy and Marcia, and to Marcia (#2) for hosting us.