Slave Quilt: The Art of Natural Dyeing

Title: Slave Quilts: The Art of Making Plant Dye

The Art Quilt Project

Overview
The student will participate in several art projects in this unit. The next lesson will include painting a quilt block with natural colors or dyes. At first, I wanted to use paper for the quilt art project, but decided that the project would be more interesting and relevant if the students were immersed into the actual production of a colored quilt block by using natural material that the slaves used to dye coarse muslin into colorful works of art.
In doing so, the students can explore the concept of how slaves made beautiful natural colors for quilt designs and gain a respect for traditional folkways. In addition, the students will keep journals, design inquiry investigations, and complete a product, with directions, to be used in a Plant Dye Recipe Book.
Objectives
Experiment with at least one dye to tint your quilt block.
Keep a journal (include the materials you used for your dye, the directions you followed and the color you achieved as result)
Dye your quilt block, dry flat and bring the block to class.
Apply plant colors directly to create natural paintings.
Create a Plant Dye Recipe Book from the journals each student is required to turn in.
Materials/Resources
Muslin or Cotton Cloth cut into blocks.
Bags
Scissors
Knife
Spoon
Gloves
Basket or box.
Cheesecloth, muslin, or panty hose,
Rubber band or trash bag ties
Alum (potassium aluminum sulphate)You can buy this at a local drugstore.
Natural Materials for Dyes:
Onion skins
Chamomile
Chopped beets or beet powder
Turmeric powder
Green dye from pond scum
Weeds, wildflowers, garden plants
Pine tree needles
Black Walnut
Tea and coffee grounds
Purple cabbage leaves
Experiment with different spices
Eucalyptus
Sunflower Seeds
Olives

Planning & Preparation
Teachers, you must model this lesson for your students. Gain the assistance of one of the science teachers at your school. This activity can easily fit into the science curriculum. The science teacher could have the students make predictions on color outcomes. Also, the science teacher has access to burners, etc.
If this activity is modeled in your classroom, please get permission from an administrator.
Send the natural dye directions on a handout home with the student. Have parents sign a permission slip agreeing to supervise and help the student with the project at home.
Background Information for Teachers
Vocabulary:
Body of the Lesson (Instruction)
Directions for Natural Dye Preparation:
Before you dye your quilt block, put on rubber gloves and something to protect your clothes.
Get assistance from an adult at home.
Get all your materials together before you begin.
Wrap plant material loosely in a piece of muslin or cheese cloth, tie closed and place in a large enameled saucepan of water.
Add your fabric to the pan and simmer for 30 minutes to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. The brightness of the dye will depend upon the length of time it simmers, the quantity of plant matter in the pot and the type of fabric used.
Remove fabric from pot with a spoon, let the cloth cool off and rinse well under running water.
Lay your quilt block on something flat and block it (flat and straight)
Write down everything you do in your journal, the material you used for the dye, the boiling time and the color you achieved.
Bring your journal and your quilt block to class (your journal entry will be combined with the other journals to produce a Plant Dye Recipe Book.
Summary and Closure
Assessment
Extensions/Interdisciplinary Connections
Correlated State Standards

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Overview
The student will participate in several art projects in this unit. The next lesson will include painting a quilt block with natural colors or dyes. At first, I wanted to use paper for the quilt art project, but decided that the project would be more interesting and relevant if the students were immersed into the actual production of a colored quilt block by using natural material that the slaves used to dye coarse muslin into colorful works of art. In doing so, the students can explore the concept of how slaves made beautiful natural colors for quilt designs and gain a respect for traditional folkways. In addition, the students will keep journals, design inquiry investigations, and complete a product, with directions, to be used in a Plant Dye Recipe Book.
Objectives
Experiment with at least one dye to tint your quilt block. Keep a journal (include the materials you used for your dye, the directions you followed and the color you achieved as result) Dye your quilt block, dry flat and bring the block to class. Apply plant colors directly to create natural paintings. Create a Plant Dye Recipe Book from the journals each student is required to turn in.
Materials/Resources
Muslin or Cotton Cloth cut into blocks. Bags Scissors Knife Spoon Gloves Basket or box. Cheesecloth, muslin, or panty hose, Rubber band or trash bag ties Alum (potassium aluminum sulphate)You can buy this at a local drugstore. Natural Materials for Dyes: Onion skins Chamomile Chopped beets or beet powder Turmeric powder Green dye from pond scum Weeds, wildflowers, garden plants Pine tree needles Black Walnut Tea and coffee grounds Purple cabbage leaves Experiment with different spices Eucalyptus Sunflower Seeds Olives
Planning & Preparation
Teachers, you must model this lesson for your students. Gain the assistance of one of the science teachers at your school. This activity can easily fit into the science curriculum. The science teacher could have the students make predictions on color outcomes. Also, the science teacher has access to burners, etc. If this activity is modeled in your classroom, please get permission from an administrator. Send the natural dye directions on a handout home with the student. Have parents sign a permission slip agreeing to supervise and help the student with the project at home.
Background Information for Teachers

Vocabulary:

Body of the Lesson (Instruction)
Directions for Natural Dye Preparation: Before you dye your quilt block, put on rubber gloves and something to protect your clothes. Get assistance from an adult at home. Get all your materials together before you begin. Wrap plant material loosely in a piece of muslin or cheese cloth, tie closed and place in a large enameled saucepan of water. Add your fabric to the pan and simmer for 30 minutes to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. The brightness of the dye will depend upon the length of time it simmers, the quantity of plant matter in the pot and the type of fabric used. Remove fabric from pot with a spoon, let the cloth cool off and rinse well under running water. Lay your quilt block on something flat and block it (flat and straight) Write down everything you do in your journal, the material you used for the dye, the boiling time and the color you achieved. Bring your journal and your quilt block to class (your journal entry will be combined with the other journals to produce a Plant Dye Recipe Book.
Summary and Closure

Assessment

Extensions/Interdisciplinary Connections

Correlated State Standards