I’ve been working on more techniques and samples for my Fabric Bowling workshop. I’ll be teaching it at the Valdez Quilt Festival in Alaska in September. I’ve been having way too much fun!
The first experiment was forgetting the fabric wrapping all together. I just took the ecru-colored cotton clothesline, some bright variegated thread and had at it. At this angle you can see that the tail of the clothesline was inserted into the bowl, comes out over the top and moves around the outside of the bowl, ending in a curly thing. Pretty handy that I goofed and missed stitching one of the coils down as I made the wall of the bowl. That gave me my “opening!”
The thread really changes the character of the bowl. Now I’d like to try thread in different colors AND just plain old ecru. Sort of a “white on white” bowl.
I was on a no-wrap kick, so the next thing I did was throw some clothesline in with the hand-dyed underpants. Oh, THAT was fun!
I had a pot going with a series of reds with some yellow mixed in. (Somebody is running around with matching panties!) I was trying to come up with alternative “rims” that added more stability. I really like the statement that this rim gives the bowl. Plus it gives you something to hang onto.
I suppose I could have just stopped there, but added some swirly things on the outside walls. I need to try another one with plain walls to see if I like that better.
And no, I couldn’t stop. Here’s another bowl with hand-dyed clothesline in BLUE. I really liked the way this rim turned out. Interestingly, both rims start out the same way.
I’m not sure I like the dimples in the swirl. That’s my hand stitching to hold them down. I now have a better way to stitch them down that doesn’t show as much and is twice as fast.
While I like the fabric wrapping a lot (and just invented a new Power Wrapper) I do like the clean look of the dyed bowls. I’m starting to dream about bowls.
Here’s the last bowl I made. This was also made with hand-dyed clothesline, but instead of the “dunk and twist” method, this was dribbled.
I wrapped the clothesline about corrugated plastic and dribbled dye of various colors to make the variegated pattern. The rim was made by finger crocheting through loops I made on the last “go-round” on the machine. It’s a very wide rim compared to the others. I’m pretty happy with the colors and the rim.
Don’t ask me how I ended the clothesline on the side. I couldn’t do it again if my life depended on it!
All I can say is I’m having a ton of fun with this. They hand-dyed clothesline gives the bowl an entirely different look. If that’s a look that you’re interested in, I have small amounts of hand-dyed clothesline available here.
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Through The Eyes Of A Quilter 
wow — those are terrific! It would be so much easier to make these bowls without having to deal with the fabric strips along with everything else you have to hold onto…
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I think that Madison should have one to go around the food and water bowl. My mom made one for us.
Chase and Feather, the Golden kids
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I love the bowls. I can see adding wooden beads. Isn’t great how I can spend other people’s time and money.,
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I really like the different look the dyed clothesline gives the bowls! And your creative edges are fantastic!
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Amazing!!!
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Wow! These are way, way cool. Never thought about dying the clothesline itself – gorgeous!
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Sure wish I lived in Alaska! I’d be at the class in a flash. I love them all…specially the dyed clothesline.
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I teach in lots of other places. Talk to your Program Chair! :)
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Ami, you always find a way to take things to the next level. These are awesome!! Hugs!
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Those bowla are great, wow! Looks like a New Book is coming along?? Keep it upp, Ami, thy’re gorgeous!!
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Something tells me that I just haven’t lived until my underpants match my fruit bowl or is it my fruit bowl matches my underpants. In any case I am highly envious and think it is a great fun thing to do. regards, Llynnda
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I love your bowls…how much “fabric” is needed to them?
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All three bowls shown above require NO fabric, but about 100 feet of clothesline. :)
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I wrapped what seemed like miles of clothesline and started to stitch on my trusty Kenmore 1040 (tiny but mighty) machine, under the tutelage of a gf who has made many many bowls. Then I went home from quilt camp and tried it on my Bernina. Four broken and 3 bent needles later I consigned the whole mess to the recycle bin and strung the other 3 packages of clothesline on my clothespoles. Then my tutor emailed to tell me her Bernina (on which she has made many bowls) died. Think I will leave the bowl making to you heartier types and get back to my quilt tops! Enjoy!
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You need a really strong needle (size 90) and you need 100% cotton clothesline.
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I did use size 90 needles – think she had recommended denim? And 100% cotton clothesline. And my clothes come off that line smellin’ sweet! And I still have too many quilts in my head that need to come out…….but it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the bowls and the ideas and LOVE the hand-dyed ones!
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Ami, like me, once you’re off on a tangent about a particular technique, you want to try it again and again! LOVE the bowls!!
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WOW! You’ve really gotten wrapped up into these bowls and it shows! Each one is better than the last! What’s next? A dog bowl for Madison maybe?
Will we be seeing your new Power Wrapper?
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You are too creative! Your bowls are beautiful, functional works of art. Love you blog and you!
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Okay – taking it a step further – why not paint the plain, coiled bowls using diluted craft paint? Can do random, air brushing,
stenciling, etc. I would like to know more about the power
wrapper, please.
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Painting would work, but I rather like the feel of dye better. And it’s washable. I will probably have the Power Wrappers up for sale shortly, in a week or two. As soon as I figure out how to ship them!
Ami :)
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WOW!!! those bowls are so beautiful. Love the wrapped clothesline!
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The bowls are marvelous. Please write a book about it since I doubt I can get to any of your workshops living way down here in sunny Florida!
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How do you ever get to sleep at night Ami? Don’t all the fascinating ideas swirling around you keep you awake? Those are amazing! Any chance you will be teaching those at Houston Quilt Show this year?
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I’m not scheduled to teach in Houston, but talk to your Program Chair!
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I like those so much more than the fabric covered ones. Good Work!! Nansi
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love the clothesline bowls…hated the wrapping of the fabric strip method…will have to try it…so much you can make with the basic technique….are you going to have a class here at home?
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Are you on the list for Flint area workshops? If I can find an open weekend this summer, it could happen….
Ami :)
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How do I get on the list for Flint area workshops?
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How about teaching this in Hampton next year??
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Not on my schedule, but talk to the Powers That Be.
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I love your baskets! I sure hope you decide to do a book on this subject – I’d love to learn how you do your trims and edges! Each basket is better than the one before!!!
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Any chance you’ll make it out to sunny Southern California? Would love to take a class; alternatively, do you have a book on this technique? Christmas is creeping up on us all……..
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Where and when are you teaching in Alaska? My husband keeps saying he would like to go to Alaska—I’m sure whenever you are there will be the perfect time.
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Wow! Love them. You have inspired me to run to my machine and see what I can do (with fabric, though). Hope a book is going to come out from this.
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I like your bowls almost as much as my dyed panties! I’d love to know what your power rope wrapper is like. I’ve started a purse project that is similar to the bowls, and I’m having a hard time with the wrapping.
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They’re absolutely beautiful.. Keep going girl!
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wowzer Bouser! They are too cool for words. Will we get a peek at them on the Quilt Show? Can’t wait to try these!
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I have been foaming at the mouth to do the bowls, I love the
look of it – it brings memories of my days building ceramic coil pots…those were the days
I love your colors and the technique is fantastic
please share the class!!
Marinda
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These are FANTASTIC! You rock. :o)
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I’m so excited!! I live about 6 hours from Valdez and plan to be there for the Quilt Festival this year – and I can’t wait to learn how to make these fabulous bowls! :-)
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Wow, love them. I did not like wrapping fabric and still have 3 hanks of rope left (our hardware store was going out of business so I bought all 4).
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I will add my applause to your efforts also.
What kind of clothesline is this and from whence does it come>
Please don’t say check out your local quilt store as they don’t have a clue.
Thanks so much for a reply.
Liz Armstrong
Arlington Heights, Il
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Those are fantastic!
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I teach the wrap bowl method.. However I loved
what you have done.
I’m off to my machine to try your methods.
I’m thinking of using set-a-color instead of dyes..
Hope it works..
Lois Wisconsin
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Would be willing to tell us what kind of dye you used to do the clothesline? I would love to try the bowls also but not sure what kind of dye would work the best. Thanks. Dolores
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LOVE your bowls. I went out and bought several spools of variegated thread at JoAnn’s today (50% off) so I can go play. I usually make mine on my Janome 6600 or my Brother 2003D, but only machine I have with me this summer is my little Janome Platinum 760 – sure hope it hollds up to the task.
I’d like to know what kind of dye to use also. I think we need a book so you can tell us exactly how you dye the rope.
Nita – in Fremont, MI for the summer
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Duh! slapping my forehead, I finally got it Bowling, I was looking for a bowling ball.
You sure are getting into dying. That’s another craft I won’t add, maybe in my next life.
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i like the earrings too!!!
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