Instead of machine stitching I tried hand stitching. Hand stitching allows for the slow considered process that I originally wanted.
I was pleased with this stitched sample but found the dye-Na-Flow difficult and different to control once the fabric had been quilted.
I tried a second sample…
I took my time, gradually layering and layering colour with various levels of dilution over several days. Each time lightly wetting the fabric to allow for a certain amount of colour leakage.
I was much more pleased with this sample but does feel a little flat.
I revisited Sarah Sudhoff’s photo series ‘at the hour of our death’ and noticed a dark wetness in a number of the images, particularly in ‘Suicide with Gun, Male, 45 years old, 2011’.
I tried painting on a little latex onto one of my previous samples…
I also painted a little latex onto a previous stitched sample…
This really does improve the visual outcome.
I decided to add latex to my more finished sample…