Kilims: A Nice Soft Red

 

Here is yet another Red. Can you tell that I like Red? This one is called Shaker Red. It is another formula from Sharon Townsend's dye book "SPNEA'S Historic Colors of America" using Prochem dyes. Click on the photo to see the lovely softness and subtle value gradation. This color looks like a well worn and loved T-shirt. This piece of wool was processed in a Presto pot with only enough water to cover the wool with little to No stirring. Another great color wool for Kilims.

Kilims: Reds Are Here Again

Can you believe it - yet another Red? Well, as you know traditional Oriental colors are red, blue and yellow - the three primary colors. This Red is called Stagecoach. It is a wonderful rich red from Sharon Townsend's dye book "SPNEA'S Historic Colors of America" using Prochem dyes. This piece of wool is 1/2 yard of Dorr natural processed in a Presto Pot with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. My mordant is always Citric Acid. Click on the photo to see the loveliness and merriment in value and depth. Another great Red for Kilims. Try it, you'll like it!

Kilims: Delicious Red

Here we go again with another Red. This one is Paprika. It is a Prochem dye directly out of the jar. It is really a delicious color. This piece is 1/2 yard of Dorr natural with 1/2 tsp. of Paprika. It was processed in a Presto Pot with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring resulting in a lovely mottled color. It is a great Red for Kilims or any other project.

Kilims: More Red

Check out this Red. It is called Holly Hill Red. It is a formula by Susan Quicksall (deqslq@aol.com) from her dye book Dying for Color. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Click on the photo to see the incredible richness of wonder in this red. This is a really pretty red for a Kilim.

Kilims: Some More Red

Here is a really gorgeous color. It is called Apple. It is a formula by Wiarton Wanda of Wandaworks. It is another of her wandering formula. I just love this one SO much. Click on the photo to see all of the merriment and deliciousness. If you need to have the formula check out Wanda's blog here: Wandaworks. It is dyed with Majic Carpet Dyes. Wanda and I checked and I believe that we found it in her archives/older posts in 28 March, 2009. I doubled Wanda's original formula over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural. You will love it. Remember Do NOT STIR...Another great color for Kilims.

My Kilim So Far...

 

My progress on my Kilim has been slow, but steady. I am a very slow hooker, especially when I am using a # 5 cut. The traditional symbols found in Kilim rugs and carpets have meanings which have been passed down from one generation to the next.

"The patterns and motifs on kilim rugs have a symbolic language. Thus, many symbolic, iconic or indexical motifs (signs) on kilim rugs can help transfer the cultural data of that time to the present day, therefore kilims are media of transferring cultural heredity as well." (Assist. Prof. PhD. Nurdan Taflk›ran - Kocaeli University, Faculty of Communication, Radio, Cinema & TV Dept., Turkey.) 

This "Red" panel represents me.

Here is an iconic figure of a man that represents me. Above me is an icon which symbolizes my hands, used to create the rugs that I make.

 

Above the hand is an icon of a cross which symbolizes my connection to my spirituality, and my yoga practice (mind/body/soul). 

Here are two more two crosses, one stylized as a flower which relates to my spiritual connection to the earth and my garden and flowers and the other a more traditional representation of a cross which represents for me my profession in the health care field.