Fabric Dying & Teflon Ironing Pad.

I've been busy dyeing cotton fabric today after realising how expensive coloured blenders are per 1/4 metre. I'm frustrated that I can't show you the true colours, but you'll have to trust me when I tell you that they're pretty. :0) These all look quite samey, but they're not.


This at least shows you the mottled effect I achieved by sprinkling dye powder onto damp fabric and squishing it up. Then I blasted it for a minute in the microwave.

Look at the marbled effect. If I can find some more dye I shall do lots more.


I have been asking around for a sleeve ironing board or an ironing pad to press my appliques and small bits of scrap fabric in my sewing room. It's a pain having to keep running downstairs to set up the ironing board and then of course I have to leave it there in the way because I have to keep going back to it while I'm working. I was just in the process of ordering a rather expensive ironing pad when I saw that they also sold Teflon coated fabric for making your own pads. Well, being my Grandmother's granddaughter, I'm not one to spend out when I can make my own! So I rummaged through my pan drawer and found a Teflon baking sheet. I sewed it to four layers of old tea towels and Voila! a smashing new ironing pad with one non-stick surface for when I'm using sticky iron-on fusing and a cotton side for normal pressing. OK, so it smells of sausages....but you can't have everything can you? :0)