Malka Stops By

Today’s blog post includes an interview with Malka Dubrawsky, one of my favorite quilters and dyers.  Malka has a book out called Color Your Cloth: A Quilter’s Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric  in which she explains how to dye and discharge fabrics.  The book also covers the use of wax resists in patterning fabrics (i.e., batik).  I’ve yet to crack into batik, but when I see images like this one:

© Malka, used with permission

which Malka posted on flickr last week, I want to run right out and get the wax and get going!  Isn’t that stunning?  She used a potato masher to create that pattern.

I first came across Malka’s work on Flickr and shortly thereafter began to follow her blog.  What really drew me in were her twinkle quilts:

© Malka, used with permission

Those quilt blocks are not make with applique, but rather by clamping plexiglass circles to either side of fabric squares, then discharging and/or dyeing the fabric.  The use of commercial fabrics so cool!

As soon as I saw this process in action, I knew that I had to do it.  And my struggle to find someone to cut plexi for me is part of the reason that I opened my shape shop.

I’ve also been really interested in what Malka calls her “low volume” work, these are quilts that are constructed with really quiet, subdued fabrics.

© Malka, used with permission

As you can see, I’m a big fan of Malka’s creations and processes, so it has been awesome to get to know her a bit better in recent months as I’ve been sponsoring her blog.  I’m so glad she agreed to be interviewed on my blog today because that’s one brain I’ve been itching to pick!

Rossie:
You’ve blogged in the past about fabric as inspiration, and noted that when it comes to altering commercial fabrics, you like simple and graphic, what else makes you think a particular fabric would be ripe for overdying?

Malka:
I usually pick fabrics that aren’t too dark in value for overdyeing. Unless, I’m planning on discharging the fabric first, I don’t want it to be too difficult for overdyeing to contrast with the base fabric. I always try to keep in mind that the dyes are transparent, so what’s underneath will still be visible to some degree.

Rossie: 
What about discharging?  I’ve noticed that when a printed fabric has both warm and cool colors, the cool colors bleach out much more quickly, so you can get pretty dramatic results (see below). As a result, I keep my eye out for this. What inspires you to try discharging a particular fabric?  What do you look for?

Malka:
I’ve also noticed that fabrics that have been dyed into reds are difficult to discharge, so I usually avoid those.
My experience has been that certain designer’s fabrics seem to discharge better than others. I don’t know why, but it’s pretty easy to discharge Denyse Schmidt’s fabrics, as well as Amy Butler’s and Kaffe Fassett’s. Right now I’m really excited about playing with Denyse Schmidt’s new Hope Valley line because if past experience is any indication, they should be fun to manipulate.

Rossie:
When you are dying and overdying solids do you always start with (i.e., buy) white PFD (prepared-for-dying) fabric?

Malka:
Yes. Always. And I’m very particular about the weave of the PFD fabric I use. I only use pima cotton because it has a very high thread count and the dyes are soaked up so intensely.

– – –

See more questions and answers (this time with Malka asking and with me answering) over on Malka’s blog A Stitch in Dye.

In honor of Malka’s visit, I’m giving away a shapes bundle from my shop (winner can pick anything in stock except for the Kalka).  In order to enter, reply to this post with a comment!  The winner will be randomly selected on Valentine’s Day. has been drawn.  Mams, please email me!

Rossie

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This Post Has 34 Comments

  2. What a great combination the two of you are – I am looking forward to seeing the magical places you will encourage one another to go! Thanks for the chance at a giveaway to take us on a magical trip too…

  4. yah rossie! i have just discover you and malka and I am so inspired. i am in the process of ordering dyes and wax to begin my journey. thank you for sharing your incredible art

  6. Malka is so amazing and it is so interesting to see your take on the knowledge you have gained! I am new to your blog but look forward to following you on your dying journey! I have enjoyed your interviews.

  7. I just got Malka's book and have been pouring over it. I would love to know the brand of PFD fabric she uses. The intense color of her fabric is what really drew me to her work.

  8. thanks for showing the 'before' and 'after' photos. i purchased your forms months ago and have yet to try them, not sure what's holding me back i just love malka's quilts when i see them. maybe i need the ovals to get me going!!!

  9. thanks for a great interview! I love Malka's work, and I'm so intrigued by the dying and overdying process. I love how she takes fabrics we've all seen and turns them into something totally unique!

  11. what a great interview! I've been following Malka's work for a couple of years now and never knew that the circle in a square quilts are made with a dying technique…so cool!

  16. I found Malka's blog by chance and through hers, yours and then your shop. Im a felter and I like surface design mostly so finding both of you has been such a huge disovery! Your plexi shapes -as soon as I have time I'd love to try them out- would open a whole new world in wooly design.
    Congrats on your work!

    http://www.florcita.eu

  17. Great interview! I have Malka's book, but have yet to try any of the techniques. Both your work is very inspiring! Thanks for the giveaway!

  18. Oh, I'm glad to have found you! One of the things keeping me from embarking on this patterning journey was the thought "I'll never find the shapes". So now I just have to get over inertia and that annoying twenty-four-hours-in-a-day thing.

  19. Both your and Malka's quilts and fabrics are very inspiring! I read Malka's blog regularly and have her book, and I'm very happy to add your blog to my list. Thanks for this great giveaway!

  22. I got Malka's book for Christmas, then purchased the circle Kalka bundle from you. I had hoped to dye before now, but it's been unusually cold & snowy here in NC–looks like I, too, have to wait for spring to get some dyeing done. Winning even more shapes would be a perfect Valentine's Day present!

  24. I've been thinking about this process for a long time but haven't had the guts to dive in just yet.
    This could be the incentive I need.
    Thanks,
    Andi 🙂

  28. Hi Rossie, I've been reading Malka's blog for a while and now I've put you in my google reader. Don't want to miss any of your great tutorials! Thanks for counting me for your shapes giveaway.

  30. These circles are awesome. I've wanted to make a circle quilt for a long time, and what a way to start with a Valentine giveaway.

  32. i love your work and the CIRCLES! Please consider me your newest fan! I desperately need to find some time to try this technique out. Pick me!

  33. I received my prize from Malka's blog on Friday. Thanks so much for your generosity and for the little extra you included! I look forward to trying something new!

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