k. taltre's tiedye

[ktaltre]

I've decided to leave most of my necklines and hems raw. However, what I have been doing lately is sewing a strip of a different color knit around the necks and hems to add another design element to the pieces.
When I have a seam, other that the shoulders, going into the neck of the shirt, I like to sew a strip of knit around the neck for stability - when you do that you stretch the strip a little bit to draw the neckline in so it doesn't gap. That's the general technique for constructing t-shirt necks.
On the sleeve and bottom hems, I stretch both the strip and the body a tiny bit while sewing so the shirt has some give; I could also use a vague zigzag stitch for this.
I've been attaching the strip under the main garment piece, right side out, so they both curl the same way. The trick is to attach the strip straight (a chalk line).
I also sometimes use the cut off bottoms of t-shirts for neck edges.
I have a tendency to over construct and am now trying to become more minimalist in my t-shirt making. I'm now using a three thread right needle serge instead of both needles and a smaller stitch length and not using the sewing machine for seams at all.
I think the type of knit dictates the type of finishing it requires.
I peruse t's in stores and see some with completely raw edges, some with a straight stitch along the raw edges and others with different sorts of raw strips with serging.
A studier of the t-shirt.
k. taltre
 

[fiberartist219]

Wow. You really know your shirts! I still consider myself a beginner sewer, but I have a strange fascination with reconstructed clothing. I have read a few books on reconstructing t-shirts... such as

Generation T
Tease
99 Ways to Cut Sew and Reconstruct Your T-shirt into something special

I've had mixed results with some of my recons, and it takes LOTS of practice to get anything decent.

I think that someday I should take a class on clothing construction and sewing. Then again, sometimes I like how my lack of knowledge leads me to untraditional methods.

Anyway, you should be really proud of these shirts. It is all to common to see a regular tie dyed shirt... but to see hand dyed fabrics mixed with each other is a real treat for the eye. You make really good color combinations too.

[ktaltre]

When you sew knits, be sure to use a ball point needle; it's also called a stretch needle.
I was a self taught sewer, but 18 years ago I took 3 semesters of clothing construction, ending with tailoring, at the local community college. I'm glad I did. I learned the "rules" and now I break them.
The teacher brought in her serger and that was a turning point for me - if you want to make professional looking garments, you have to have a serger. And that being said, you really don't have to have a serger, but you will then have to be into french seams and hand finishing methods.
The serger brought me to the t-shirt.
It does take a lot of practice! I'll be practicing the rest of my life, haha.
Thank you for your compliments!
k. taltre

[fiberartist219]

Awhile back, I inheirited a serger, but I'm afraid to take it out of the box. I've had my sewing machine for three years now, and I'm still trying to make friends with it. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to work with a serger if I'm barely capable of regular sewing, but maybe it's worth a shot... I'll have to google some serger instructions.

[ktaltre]

I've been working on a LWI whole cloth quilt for the last month.

http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/ktaltre/?action=view&current=EarthSunMandala.jpg
http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/ktaltre/?action=view&current=EarthSun2.jpg
http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q222/ktaltre/?action=view&current=EarthSun3.jpg

I had dyed the cloth last year and wasn't pleased with it, but had it hung on the wall as a backdrop for photographing shirts. I looked at it all year and came to appreciate it and it started talking to me, "make me into a quilt, etc", haha. So I did.
k. taltre

ps: I can't seem to post a real picture here anymore, so I'm giving links.
And, Steve, I do know how to post a picture - they just don't show up. I've tried several times.

[2D4]

Hi K.,

I looked through your collection, amazing
work......they are pieces of art. The quilt work
is awesome and I especially love #31 the
dyed and printed silk.

Love to see them in person.

Jo

[ktaltre]

The #31 silk was for a complex cloth challenge a couple of years ago; it's 42"x72".
#38 & 39 are large quilts given away as presents.
The horned lizard and the parrot are about 44"x50" (and are dimensional) and went into the gallery - the lizard sold.
The present quilt is 84"x73" and went to the gallery yesterday - I'll get to see it hanging on saturday nights opening.
The gallery is happy with me; my stuff sells. I got in on my tiedye and they seem to be surprised at the cloth/fiber art I bring in.
Yeah, I'm trying!
I truly want to do a tied mandala and then quilt it - working up to it.
k. taltre

[Jello]

You've got some amazing work... Are you selling them? They're really pretty!







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If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can't buy
Leather Dye Guide/Black Leather Dye

[zeppenwolf]

>yellowhearts

    What dye (dyes?) is that in the middle, the teal color?  The red is very powerful too.  The fold lines around the heart look really great.


>kalidescope

    Tying this one, I guess you drew a big circle, put a running stitch in it to make folds, then in the middle...?  Just tried to fold it up as best it would go?  Yikes, it sounds like alot of work.

[ktaltre]

Yellowhearts dishtowel: The reds I like have been ProChem's raspberry and boysenberry. The teal may have been just yellow and turquoise or maybe ProChem's caymen island green, but looks like turquoise right now.

The kaliedescope dishtowel was what looks like a quarter fold with a quarter round tied fanfold (no needles), what looks a shape tied in the middle and the rest of the middle scrunched, bled on the edges. Maybe it's an eighth fold, can't remember. Fowler does it on his dvd, big with paint.

Geeze, on dishtowels, one does Not want to do a lot of work. I try to tie like Michael F., as fast as I can. He bragged in class that he could tie a shirt in one minute. I can't do that............
I tie damp and use activated dye. I've been letting tied pieces dry some before dyeing.
k. taltre

[ktaltre]

I've been impressed with the yoga pants that others have posted here.
I finally bought one pair from Dharma for a gift.

I tied and dyed them twice; I thought the first go was anemic.
The recipient was ecstatic. woohoo
k. taltre

[deb]

Wow, that's wild!

[Jaja]

I've seen your gallery too. I like number 23 - tone-in-tone effect and original color choice.

[ktaltre]

Here's some tiedye on Flannel fabric. The flannel dyes quite well, even folded.









These are baby sheets and are pilly, I don't think the baby will care.............
k. taltre

[mishoga]

Those are beautiful!