Ryan and I decided to explore the iron stamp and Burn-Out/Devore methods for our textual application on our second dress titled Ad Astra Per Astera.
The iron stamp method is simple, take a stamp and lay the fabric on it face down, iron the back side until the image shows on the front.
The Devore/Burn-Out method is accomplished through the chemical burning of plant matter in fabric- ie cotton, rayon, linen, etc. A blended fabric like silk-rayon velvet is appropriate for a burn out. We decided to try several velvets and a mixed satin.
(First we dyed some velvet and satin to see if it mattered if they were 'normal' or dyed)
To create a burn-out we had two choices, to purchase the premixed product called Fiber-Etch, or to purchase the chemicals and play Chemistry masterminds. We chose to make it ourselves! The combination of Sodium Bisulfate and Glycerin suspended in a gum gel was applied to our various fabrics and left to dry. After the gel dried we ironed it to activate the chemical process. We then rinsed out the plant matter that was "burned".
After meeting with Melanie and Emily we decided to go with our satin option. We found that neither of these methods is appropriate for satin, as with the burn-out method it only had thread running in two directions, leaving large unsupported gaps in the fabric (one of the directions was burned out- eliminating the weave) versus the velvet which develops a sort of screen, holding it together. The stamp method was too subtle since there is no pile (upward threads like carpet) on satin.
While the burn-out and stamp methods didn't suit our needs, it was a good experience.
Our next steps are to explore white or silver acrylics and beading for our textual application.
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