Kerr Grabowski Student Materials List Aya Fibers / November 2024
Fabric: From 4-6 yards fabric in1/2 to 2 1/2 yard lengths(really up to you) Whit or light colored silk, rayon, cotton, linen (protein or cellulose for fiber reactive dyes) You may also bring your own printed fabrics to work into. Eco printed fabrics are fine.
FABRIC PREP:
Prewash your fabric in hot water to remove any sizing or dirt.
Please soda soak a few yards of fabric prior to the workshop. I use soda for both silk and cellulose-if you prefer to prepare your silk with acid, that is fine. We will also soda soak as needed during our workshop
****Following is my recipe-if you soak a different way and it works feel free to use your method.
SODA SOAK: please wear gloves, mask and eye protection
1/2C sodium carbonate(soda ash) per gallon water
Dissolve soda ash in cold water and stir into the gallon of water—add fabric-can be damp or dry and can be tightly squished into the bucket. If fabric is not “squished in” I soak for minimum of 15 minutes—if squished, I soak longer---- time to allow the soda water to penetrate fibers. Wearing gloves, wring fabric out and hang to dry. DO NOT RINSE!
You could also spin fabric in washer (turn off cold water to washer-some allow water to enter during spin cycle) and hang up to dry. Please do not iron or put in dryer.
ultra fine tip permanent marker (ex. Sharpie)
paper-- sketch pad/copy paper or newsprint---8.5x11 is large enough
t-pins, flower head pins or other for pinning fabric to padded table
SILKSCREEN-at least 2, pref same size(if you have screens, don’t worry about being the same size) anywhere from 10 x 12" to 16x20. 10 x 12 is a good size for small. 8xx, 10xx or 12xx or around 110 mesh (can be ordered from www.dickblick.com 1.800.447.8192)
Please scrub screen(back and front)å with something similar to comet, greased lightening or cheap shampoo. If your screen is not taped, please bring tape for taping. 3M clear repair tape or clear gorilla tape are great, regular duct tape works also. If you have already taped your screen, whatever you used is fine!
SQUEEGEE-optional-Kerr is bringing small bondo spreaders for everyone. OLD CREDIT CARDS or similar are great for small squeegees.
roll masking tape (any width)
disposable type gloves
pencil
tongue depressors or plastic spoons (for stirring dye,-etc )
Scissors- I love small pointy ones for cutting stencils
foam brushes - several 1”
paint brushes—whatever you have-dont go out and buy a bunch of brushes BUT, if you enjoy painting, watercolor type brushes are great.
Containers WITH LIDS for dyes -several(at least 7)around 1/4 to 1/2 C. and a quart container for print paste (yoghurt,margarine etc.) To-go coffee lids can work as lids-they do not have to fit perfectly
muffin tin, ice cube tray or something to use for palette
hairdryer(if you have one)
hot glue gun and glue (if you already have)
old clothes or an apron to protect
several old towels and a roll of paper towels-any size towel (could be old dish towels) for drying screens and general clean up.
Plastic to cover fabric when batching-6 or so large trash bags are perfect.
Dust mask (inexpensive hardware store one is fine)
Textural stuff - floor mats, corrugated cardboard, plastic doilies, fat string, rubber stamps, material to make new stamps, embossed wallpaper, --- DON” T go out and buy a bunch of stuff for this-bring what you have--any texture not higher than 1/4” might work. Kerr will be bringing textures also.
Optional – any equipment, materials that you like to use-thermofax screens(with images) stamps, paint brushes, fusible web, good printmaking paper (rives BFK, arches 88, Stonehenge, Japanese papers—to use instead of fabric or in addition to.
Materials fee covers stencil materials, all dyes and chemicals, some textures, handouts, syringes and bondo spreaders (for squeegees), and stuff. Also a few “extras” for surprise demo and play.
Kerr will be bringing silk organza and fusible web for purchase at her cost.
Questions? email or text Kerr at lizzykerr51@gmail.com Phone: 228-806-5377