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Hand dyed Fabric
Ellen always has a selection of individual pieces of hand-dyed cottons and threads. All of her cottons are dyed with Procian fiber reactive dye. She uses high quality PFD print cotton that takes the dye beautifully. They've been washed out twice and are very colorfast and needle ready. Her colors are vibrant and strong.
Because each piece is individual, it's tricky to order just what you want on line. So Ellen lets you pick out the right things for you at home. Call Ellen and let her know roughly what you are looking for (size, color, light source fabric or all over design). What she will do is send a box of thread and/or fabric to your specifications and let you choose which pieces work for you. Return the pieces you don't want, and pay the postage both ways. This works as well with groups. Ellen will also dye fabric or clothing for your specifications. Call or email her and let her know what you need.
Handdyed Pearl Cotton Threads
Hand dyed Pearl More new colors!
The more I work with hand-dyed pearl cotton, the more I know we need more colors, options and possibilities. I've dyed threads for over ten years now, because I know how to dye threads will shade easily and excellently. The secret is in the color choices. Just like every story has a beginning, a middle and an end, every image has a light, medium and dark section. If the thread is already dyed to accomodate those colors, it's so much more easy to create a shaded image. These #5 pearl cottons are perfect for hand embroidery as well as Bobbin Work. The reason for hand dyeing thread is the same as for any other kind of hand dye. It give us what isn't available commercially.
The secret is in the color choices. Just like every story has a beginning, a middle and an end, every image has a light, medium and dark section. If the thread is already dyed to accommodate those colors, it's so much more easy to create a shaded image.
I've divided my threads into centered colors, shaded colors and shocker colors.
Shader colors: These create a weighted base with the color range and a few darks to give dimension. If you're working dark to light you'll start wit those.
Centered colors: These are your colors that are centered two ways. They're probably in the center of your image, and they use both shade and sun versions of your colors to center the shade somewhere in between.
Shocker colors: These are a range of your color, with one or two shockers to give spark and visual interest.
I've dyed a lovely range of color combinations that are labled as shaders, centers and shockers, to help take the guesswork out of your thread choices. For your images, pick a shader, a center and a shocker. You'll love your three-dimensional shaded images.
I've dyed a lovely range of color combinations that are labled as shaders, centers and shockers, to help take the guesswork out of your thread choices. For your images, pick a shader, a center and a shocker. You'll love your three-dimensional shaded images.
If you need to match colors, please remember that each dye session is vastly different. It's easier to have several shades that combine than to match. Each shade is dyed in small quantities, so make sure you get what you need. If I'm out of a color, I'll choose something close and compatible unless you tell me otherwise.
Want more guidence?
Look for Ellen's handdyed thread combinations for sure-fire color excitement. (Coming soon.)
Or ask Ellen to choose for you.
Here are a list of Colors that Ellen has to Choose from. Please click on the type of threads to see them.
Shader Colors
Evening Shadows, Forest Shadows, Glorious Mud, Indian Turquoise, Midnight Shadows,
Plush plums, Purple Shadows
Centered Colors
Lovely Limes, Leafy Greens, Oceanic Blues, Tangerine Dreams, Hot Red Mommas, Really Roses, Bright blue skies, Weathered Wood, Swamp thing greens, Pine Forest
Shocker Colors
Fall Leaf Sky, Peachy Sunsets, Sunflower Spark, Sky Blue Pink, Green Grapes, Tropical Island