Dye Master at Work!
Master weaver and dye artist Helen Bia was hard at work yesterday. We had the rare opportunity to see her dye in real time.
Step 1 - make the dye
Step 2 - add the wool and simmer
Step 3 - let the wool cool and sit to absorb the dye
Step 4 - check the color intensity
Step 5 - once the desired color is achieved, rinse the wool and let dry.
Making natural dyes and hand dying wool in incredibly time consuming. Very few weavers today take the extra time and effort to hand dye their wool.
It is a family tradition in certain weaving families along with "secret" family dye recipes.
Thank you Helen for giving us a glimpse into a day in the life of a Master Navajo Weaver.
Below is the final product!
THREE TURKEY RUIN: VEGETAL DYED NAVAJO WEAVING :
GLORIA BIA : CHURRO 1597
$ 3,500
- Beth Barth
