In MUSINGS I let my thoughts roam about things "needlework". It acts as sort of a refresher for me, and, I hope it might do the same thing for you. I'll be "Musing" and changing things monthly and would be pleased to let you know when I have something new. Let me add you to my growing list of fellow needlecrafters. Click on any e-mail us link seen throughout our site for a short "Join us" form.
Thank you.

Check out Past Musings (April)

MAY 1998

Well, I'm still on color. I've recently accepted a handful of commissions and have to mix paint for them. Our niece will be married at the end of May and asked if I would make her ring pillow. She likes eggplant and peach.

Color to "DYE" For

I use Liquitex brand permanent acrylic paint. It's wonderful on fabric and the color fastness is superb. I have painted cotton, silk, linen, and wool with this paint and the results have been terrific.
In the past, I have dyed needlepoint canvas with this paint as well. It's not the cleanest operation, but it can be done at home with sizable pieces of canvas.

You'll need a bathtub that no one minds using after they learn you're dying fabric in it, a serious amount of paint in the color you want {the amount depends on how large a piece is to be dyed}, and warm/hot water for mixing. Mix in the tub and test on a scrap of canvas/fabric. Let the test piece dry before proceeding. It should be a watery mixture {the look of bath water with color to it}. You only need enough water to cover the fabric. When your tester turns out right, you're ready to go. If you plan to dye yards of canvas/fabric, DON'T FOLD IT. Ease the material down the side of the tub into the dye. Immediately pull it up to see the color you have. When the color looks a bit too weak, you're done.

Hang the fabric on the shower curtain rod or something similar to dry. REMEMBER the drips will dye anything they touch so use old towels you don't care about. Clean up of the tub is easy - use a nylon scouring pad and whatever cleanser you normally use.

I don't keep a lot of colors on hand so I mix virtually all the colors I use. I love to mix paint. It's very relaxing for me and I can get lost for hours.

Mixing Paint

Mixing paint is like cooking. I'm sure there are specific formulas but I don't use them. I mix to color the way a cook mixes to taste. A "pinch of this" becomes a "drop of that". You must have a sample or a clear mental image of the color you're going for. I always mix more paint than needed.

Store unused paint in the little plastic cans that come with new rolls of film. They keep paint fresh and take up very little room. Put a bit of paint on the lid so you'll know what color is inside. Now you're ready to go forth and mix.

My Eggplant and Peach

Eggplant: burnt umber, dioxazine purple, cadmium red medium. Start with a small dollop of burnt umber. Add four drops of red and a big dollop of purple. Mix together. Add a small amount {approximately a teaspoon} of warm/hot water to thin. I always mix in the kitchen with the kettle on for the warm/hot water. The heat makes the paint mix easier. At this point, you should have dark eggplant. Now paint a bit on a paper towel or white piece of paper and let it dry. Acrylics dry darker than they look wet, so always test. Let's say the color is too dark. Titanium white is your lightening agent but BE VERY JUDICIOUS when using white to lighten colors. Start with a drop or two. Mix. Test. Another drop or two and repeat until you have the color you're after.

Peach: cadmium red medium,cadmium yellow medium, titanium white. Mix almost equal parts of red and yellow {a bit less yellow}. Add a big dollop of white and a teaspoon of warm/hot water. Mix. If the color is too dark, add more white until you achieve the shade you're after. Don't forget to test each time you add white; always remember, acrylics dry darker than they look wet.

Just like Norm of
"The New Yankee Workshop" says,

"Let's review the basics".

• Always work in good light.
• Always work in a comfortable location with proper back support.
• Always use the right tools for the job:
• Proper needle and thread size for the project.
• A frame makes stitching anything easier and allows you to see the whole work area easily.

Building a Paint Inventory!

If you want to build a paint inventory, here's a list of colors I cannot mix without.

• Cadmium red medium
• Cadmium yellow medium
• Hooker's green
• Titanium white
• Ivory black
• Mixing grey
• Cobalt blue
• Brilliant blue
• Dioxazine purple
• Burnt umber
• Raw umber
• Phthalocyanine blue
• Light blue violet
• Light portrait pink
• Chromium oxide green
• Neutral grey

I also like to use Unbleached titanium Flax, and Parchment in place of white to lighten colors, but they aren't necessary. The list above may seem large, but when you see the array available, it shrinks to manageable size.

Other Color Tips

If you're mixing light or medium colors and need the shade to be darker, use either mixing grey or black. Mixing grey will deepen the shade slowly without altering the color. Black will alter the color. Use either as sparingly as you would white.

Some colors, such as chromium oxide green, are very granular and don't mix well. A small drop of mixing grey or white will will help smooth the mixing process. The white will lighten the color a bit, but a half drop of black should bring it back to square one.

Other paint formulas. These are general and must be tailored to your personal taste. Olive green: cobalt blue,cadmium yellow medium, ivory black. OR: chromium oxide green, cadmium yellow, ivory black. Burgundy: cadmium red medium, dioxazine purple,ivory black or mixing grey. Turquoise: phthalocyanine blue, cadmium yellow medium, titanium white. Brown: cadmium red medium, cadmium yellow medium, dioxazine purple, ivory black. Navy: any blue, ivory black {remember there is red navy, yellow navy, green navy, so you'll need a dash of the underlying tone for the navy you want}. Dusky tones: mix the color you want then add a small drop of black. If you want dusky pastels, use mixing grey in place of black. Pastel tones: mix the color you want then add titanium white.

 

Color is very subjective. When I say red, I see primary red , but someone else may see cherry red or ruby red in their mind's eye. Defining terms can work well in other areas, but when talk turns to color, it's best to play show-and-tell whenever possible.

 

Well, this is MUSINGS for this month. This page will change monthly. I welcome your comments, suggestions, questions, and needlework trivia. Your input may appear in future MUSINGS so be sure to give me permission to use your name. Of course, I will continue to design charts for sale and I will continue to think about things needlework.

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