Memphis Guild of Handloom Weavers

As a fun activity, Alysia has been researching cyanotyping on fabric. This is a fun way to create beautiful blue prints and the design is completely up to you. Alysia has volunteered to bring pre-treated flour sack dish towels (28 x 28 inches) so she will have done all the chemical treatments to prepare the cloths in advance. If you want to play and create your own, please bring the following items:

1. A large piece of cardboard (flattened box) or lid from a plastic tote to place the cloth on when it's in the sun (cloths are 28 x 28).
2. Whatever you want to place on the cloth to make your design. This could be leaves that have interesting shapes, flowers, stencils, household goods, etc.
3. Some plastic wrap or plastic film to place over your design elements. This is primarily to hold them in place and in close contact with the cloth in case it's windy. If you are using heavy objects to make your designs, you won't need this.
4. A brown or dark bag or other container that will keep light out. This is for transporting your project in between the time it has been outside and developing the design and getting it back inside and rinsed out to stop the chemical reaction.
5. A plastic bag to take your damp project home in.
6. Optional. Rubber gloves. The projects do have to be rinsed once they've been outside to wash the water-soluble iron salts away. If you have sensitive skin, you might want gloves for this step.

Then all we need is sun. While it's true that we're in a cloudy, rainy period, the long-distance forecast is for partly sunny skies in the early afternoon of the 17th so fingers crossed.

Note: Once you have your cyanotype, it is permanent, but must be washed with a non-phosphate soap so the beautiful blue doesn't turn yellow.