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the MAIWA JOURNAL



Enter the promotional code "2013" in the
DISCOUNT COUPON box in your online cart for 10% off.

If we sell it online, you can get 10% off.
January 1 - 31, 2013.

Discount is applied to items in the online store only.
Discount is applied before taxes and does not include shipping.
Monday, December 31, 2012 No comments
In 2013 we will be returning to our natural dyeing blog posts. We left off at the close of 2010 just before we were about to start talking about mordants.

Why the gap? In that time we've been doing extensive research and testing in our own studios. We have been working with new extracts, a wider variety of raw materials, and some alternative mordanting methods.

During the past two years we have done considerable experimental dyeing in which we check recipes for fastness (light, wash, and rub fastness). We then do additional testing on the process so that we may expect even results. Such testing is especially important for fabrics (as opposed to yarns) as we want to avoid splotchy dyeing. In addition we track such criteria as environmental friendliness, cost of materials, and conservation of water and energy. These are often the most important factors to communicate when we teach internationally.

Below, a grid of tests using weld and cochineal extracts on a variety of fibre types.

A-cotton, B-silk, C-rayon, D-wool, E-wool (dyed at the same time as silk)

1-weld 100%
2-weld 95% and cochineal 5%
3-weld 90% and cochineal 10%
4-weld 70% and cochineal 30%
5-weld 50% and cochineal 50%
6-weld 30% and cochineal 70%
7-weld 20% and cochineal 80%
8-weld 10% and cochineal 90%
9-weld 5% and cochineal 95%
10-cochineal 100%



Posts in the Maiwa Guide to Natural Dyes

Introduction
Water
Fibres
Weight of Fibre
Scouring
Our Approach
Mordants Part 1
Mordants Part 2
Mordants Part 3
Alkanet
Brazilwood Myrobalan


Monday, December 31, 2012 2 comments


From all of us to all of you 

Yuletide greetings
 and warm winter wishes,
Cherish the ones you love.

Enjoy.



Monday, December 24, 2012 1 comments

Needle felting is right up there with knitting as a hand-held craft that can be done (provided you're careful) almost anywhere. Wool roving is felted by repeatedly moving a barbed needle through the wool and into a foam base.

In addition to the regular needle felting items, Maiwa Supply also sells these delightful kits. They contain everything you need to make two small animals. The animals are about the size of christmas ornaments (and if you add your own threads they could easily be hung from the tree.)

Just a note that although these animals are adorable, needle felting involves the use of a sharp needle and so is not suitable for young children. Here are some other kits available in the store.







Kits sell for 24.95 and contain roving, needle, foam and instructions. Available only in Maiwa Supply (not online - sorry).
Tuesday, December 18, 2012 No comments

If you happen to be south of the US boarder this winter, visiting Oaxaca City perhaps, there is an exceptional exhibition named "telares que retoñan artistas jovenes del textil" mounted at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca. Curator Eric Chávez Santiago visited young weavers in their villages to conduct interviews and record their work. Now the interviews and weavings are on display in a gallery of the Oaxaca Textile Museum (until March 2013). The youngest of the weavers is only eight years old - the oldest is twenty. Regardless of age, however, they are all producing exceptional work that would be the envy of almost any weaver.


Most fascinating is what motivates these young artisans. Many have started weaving because their parents are also artisans and they feel a desire to help their family. They soon discovered a love of the work inside themselves. Through their weavings, they are able to express something that has meaning for them and combine this motivation with income generation. 


On a recent visit to Oaxaca we spoke to Remigio Mestas Revilla who is involved with the Museum and is also a key influence in locating markets for the finished work. He emphasized that all of the young weavers must not only be accomplished at the loom, they also must do well at school. "This exhibit is important for so many. For the public, of course, but also for the friends, family, and neighbours of the young weavers.  It shows how important our cultural heritage is. These young artisans are receiving phone calls and messages from Mexico City, from Santa Fe, from the USA. I would love to see this exhibit travel to all the universities and schools in Mexico. It is that important."


The museum publication (written by Alejandro de Avila) includes this paragraph:

As we present this exhibit, the Oaxaca Textile Museum achieves its dearest goal: to provide an incentive for new generations to breathe life into the arts of the loom and needle. We are enthused beyond words to help youngsters who identify themselves with the cultural traditions of their home communities and who are starting out on their own path to express their sensibility through textiles. We thank their parents and mentors for trusting us to interview them and record their life experiences.

Special thanks to Eric Chavez for leading us through the exhibit and telling us the stories of these young weavers.

More information may be found on the Museo textil de Oaxaca website and on their facebook page.

Wednesday, December 05, 2012 1 comments
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