dyeing simple clavi

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Pics as I promised
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309 ... 010508.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309 ... 010760.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309 ... 010761.jpg

[Magnus]

Looks great Paul. So they actually bisect the tunic fabric, and instead the tunic joins to the clavii, and the clavii isn't sewn overtop of the fabric. Cool.

[Marcus Mummius]

That looks fantastic indeed Paul! Is it machine stiched? I guess the thread used to sew this would be idealy exactly the same colour as the clavi, no?

How exactly do you position the pieces to avoid getting a difference in height between the tunic fabric and the clavi?

This means that I'll be able to dye the clavi with madder (nice and small pieces for a change ).

Vale,

[M. Demetrius]

They look hand sewn to me. At least hand sewn around the edges. But I'm not Paul.

Does fabric dyed with madder fade? That's one thing I've been a little concerned about using natural dyes...the red bleeding into the white, if it's a white tunic. I suppose they had that problem, and probably just accepted it as the way things are. Some kinds of commercial dyes are colorfast, so fabric store cloth rarely fades the way home-dyed cloth does.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Jeff its all machine sewn to make a tighter seam. I basically done this one all by eye so there is some variation in the widths. I plan on making another and I will pin the clavi in place so they do not move.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Does fabric dyed with madder fade? .

David I remember reading once that the redcoats worn by British soldiers were dyed with madder, and they would sometimes fade to a pinkish color with extended use.

I have also seen original Napoleonic era uniforms in person, and the read was still very bright.

[Marcus Mummius]

Jeff its all machine sewn to make a tighter seam. I basically done this one all by eye so there is some variation in the widths. I plan on making another and I will pin the clavi in place so they do not move.

Thanks, I'll do it with a machine too I think.

Can you perhaps make a very simple diagram/drawing of how the different pieces of fabric overlap exactly? The tunic itself is in 6 pieces and there are 4 clavi pieces, right?

Does fabric dyed with madder fade?

It might fade a little after extended heavy use but not very fast I think. The colour of fabric dyed with blueberries and most other kinds of berries fades very quickly (after one or two years).
And wouldn't the slightly faded effect be realistic, you think?

Since I've been experimenting with natural dyes I've really fallen in love with them. You can really spot the difference between natural and fabric paint colours.

If you use madder for the clavi, do make sure that you rinse the dyed fabric VERY well, and several times before sewing them into the tunic. All the loose colour particles have to be removed.

Vale,
Jef

[Crispvs]

Sorry to not to have replied sooner.

My clavi are painted with a fabric paint I bought in the handicraft section of a department store. I can check the brand later. The painted area is not noticably stiff but I deliberately painted it reasonably lightly. I do not know how it compares with natural dye. I thought of using tape to get a straight line but then reasoned that as actual clavi were generally woven into the fabric the threads themselves would carry the colour. Therefore I decided to painstakingly follow and paint a single thread all the way from the top to the bottom to get each edge of the clavus lines. Sorry that I do not have a decent photo I can post up at the moment.

Graham.

I was told about the painted clavi by Celer and I believe he had seen the clothing fragment at Christie's auction house.

Primvs,

Your clavi certainly look good. I wonder though, can the seem be seen on the outside, given that woven clavi would present a smooth surface?

Crispvs

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Crispvs,

You can tell if you are closer than 1 meter. But then only if you are looking for it. I have had people ask where I got linen with woven in clavi before :wink: