Fabulous Fused Fabric Flowers

Materials:

digital camera
computer
inkjet color printer
fiber reactive dyes
3 four-gallon buckets or plastic shoebox size containers
3 glass jars with lids
measuring spoons
mixing spoons
measuring cups
microwave
100-percent white cotton fabric
urea
soda ash
warm water
old-fashioned hand crank wringer
clothesline
washer and dryer
artist's canvas
fusible web for 100-percent cottons
rotary cutter
cutting mat
clear quilter's ruler
scissors
iron and ironing board
dust mask
safety glasses
rubber gloves
apron
picture hanging hardware
black permanent marker

1. Take digital photos of flowers.

2. Download the photos onto a computer and make an 8" x 10" print (figure A). Enlarge to about 20" x 20" in black and white at a copy store (figure B).

3. Pencil sketch the flowers onto a white piece of fabric 3 inches bigger than the artist’s canvas (figure C).

4. Cut 100-percent white cotton into 36" x 44" pieces and soak in one cup of water for 15 minutes in 4-gallon buckets or shoebox size plastic containers. No need to wring out.

5. Wear mask or respirator, safety glasses, apron, and rubber gloves to mix dye solutions (desired colors of the background and flowers) of 2- to 4-tablespoons of powdered dyes with warm water (heated in the microwave to about 110-degrees F) and 2-tablespoons of urea in a glass jar with a lid (figure D). Stir until dissolved. Leave the gloves on. Take off the rest of the protective gear.

6. Pour the dye solution over the white fabric scrunched up in a ball in the plastic container and gently squeeze the dye into the fabric.

8. Take the fabric out of the bucket and wring the excess dye out with an old fashioned hand wringer attached to a sawhorse.