Bli-Lahcastef Fahhing, "Saturday, July' 20,' 19016
LaVonne Weaver’s quilted wall hanging must be seen in color to appreciate the
subtle changing colors achieved through pickling the fabric. During Ag Progress
Days held Aug. 13-15, LaVonne will display and hand out information on the fabric
pickling process. Look for the display booth of Centre Pieces In the craft display
building.
Farm Wife Pickles Fabrics
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
CENTRE HALL (Centre Co.)
This is the season for pickling
pickles, watermelon rinds, canta
loupe, zucchini, and other relishes.
And at least one farm wife pickles
fabrics.
Pickled fabric isn’t for eating
but is used to make wall hangings,
quilts, and other fabric crafts.
The subtle shade differences,
from light to dark, achieved
through the pickling process adds
depth and interest to completed
fabric crafts.
LaVonne Weaver, whose hus
band combines teaching with
farming in Centre Hall, finds most
of the supplies needed for the pick
ling process in farm supply stores.
LaVonne read about the pick
ling process several years ago in a
quilting magazine. After experi
menting, she simplified the
process.
“From one batch, I get 24 colors
in all shades, which produces a
nice texture. It sounds a little com
plicated, but it is fun to do,”
LaVonne said.
“If you purchase the pickled
fabric at a craft show, you will pay
a fortune,” LaVonne said. By
doing it herself, she estimates that
it costs heraboutSl to do a piece of
fabric that quitters refer to as a fat
quarter of fabric, which is 'A yard
material split in half.
Here are directions for pickling
fabrics that LaVonne has adapted
from reading an article by Vimila
McClure of Willow Springs, Mo.,
which appeared in “American
Quilter,” in the Fall of 1995.
For those who attend Ag Pro
gress Days held Aug, 13-15, look
up LaVonne, who will have a dis
play of pickled fabrics and a hand
out on the process. She will be at
the Centre Pieces booth in the craft
display building. LaVonne will
only be at the display booth on
Tuesday, but other people from
Centre Pieces will be able to
answer any questions on the other
days.
Before beginning the pickling
process, order the following sup
plies from a dye house or farm
supply store. A mail-order dye
house, which LaVonne recom
mends, is Pro Chemical & Dye,
P.O. Box 14, Somerset, MA
02728. For orders only call
1-800-2-BUY-DYE.
• 3 cups urea granules
• 4 ounces each Procion dyes
Red MXBB (fuchsia)
Yellow MXBG
Turquoise MXG
• 1 pint Synthrapol soap or orvus
soap
• VA cups dye activator or soda
ash
LaVonne said that each orvus
soap is available in farm stores and
is used for washing show animals.
The soap is used to wash fabric
after dyeing and is also sold in
quilting shops or catalogs.
Urea granules used in dyeing are
also sold in farm stores as fertiliz
er. Soda ash is sold at swimming
pool supply stores as well as
through dye product supply stores.
LaVonne uses canning pickling
salt to set the dye after the process.
If yon have questions about
pickling fabrics, LaVonne will be
happy to answer questions if you
write or call heratß.D.l, Box 132,
Centre Hall, PA 16828. Phone
(814) 466-7152.
These jars contain pickled fabrics that LaVonne Weaver
makes by using supplies from farm stores. Pickling fabrics
is a favorite hobby for this farm wife from Centre Hall.
Pickled Fabric Recipe
6 yards of unbleached or bleach
ed muslin or other 100 percent cot
ton fabric for each 24-step batch.
1 gallon container
3 quart containers
Measuring spoons
3 chopsticks of long spoons for
stirring
Rubber gloves
Apron
2 dozen 8-ounce jelly jars with
lids (keep the boxes with jar
separators).
2 or 3 plastic tubs for transport
ing dyed fabrics to washing
machine
2-cup measuring cup
Paper towels for cleanup
. Dust mask (available from a dye
house or farm supply store)
Calgon watpr softener
214 cups pickling salt
Sink with running water that
will hold at least 3 gallons.
(Turn to Pag* B 15)
SEE YOUR NEAREST
DEALER
FOR DEPENDABLE
EQUIPMENT & SERVICE
PENNSYLVANIA
MESSICK
EQUIPMENT
RD 1, Box 255 A
717-259-6617
Annvllle. PA
BHM Farm
Equipment,
Inc.
RD 1, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Carlisle. PA
R&W
Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rt. 283 - Rheem’s
Exit
717-367-1319
Halifax. PA
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R.D. 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
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717-789-3117
MARYLAND
Frederick. MD
Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197
Outside MD, 800-331-9122
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton. NJ Washington. NJ
Leslie G. Fogg, Smith Tractor
Inc. Equip., Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek 15 Hillcrest Ave.
Landing Rd. 908-689*7900
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
ICWHOUMD
Dependable
Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Olev- PA
C.J. Wonsidler
Bros.
R.D. 2
610-987-6257
Pitman. PA
Schreffler
Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Tamaoua. PA
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R.D. 3
717-386-5945
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352 N. Jennersville Ri
610-869-2214
1-800-869-9029
Owen Supply Co
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308