Discover Sympatico’s enchanting line of handmade scarves
Posted by Rose on 5th Sep 2024
The Sympatico collection of handmade scarves is made at my studio in Oregon, USA. (I also sometimes offer handmade scarves from destinations where I’ve traveled.) I love to experiment and get hands-on with natural dyeing practices, and I have a commitment to minimizing the environmental impact of my work.
Sympatico’s handmade scarf line features one-of-a-kind, elegant accessories that masterfully accentuate our line of tops, pants and skirts. In this article, I’ll be sharing more about my scarf-making process, from choosing the fabric to the different dyeing processes I use.
I have a few different collections of scarves that I’ve handmade in the USA; first, is remnant scarves.
Above: a sample of remnants left after cutting garments.
Transforming scraps into scarves
As I cut our line of tops, pants and skirts, there are invariably scraps of fabric that can’t be used in the garments. Luckily, I’ve found that it’s possible to recycle those scraps into handmade scarves that coordinate gracefully with the Sympatico line of women’s clothing.
Each remnant scarf is crafted from a blend of hemp and Tencel fabric, which is the same eco-friendly blend we use in our clothing line. As such, they are especially well-suited accessories for the Sympatico line.
Dandelion scarf: indigo on hemp/tencel.
From fabric stash to fashion statement
Over the years, I’ve developed quite the collection of natural fabrics including wools, silks, linens, tencel/lyocells and cottons. These fabrics were waiting patiently for the perfect project. Scarves in our shop that are tagged as, "From my fabric stash" showcase creations from our textile archive, each telling a story of sustainability and creativity.
How I prepare and dye the scarves
You may be wondering about the dyeing process. Learning about dyeing has been so much fun, and I’ve thrown myself into learning about different natural dyeing processes. If natural dyes won’t work on a particular piece, I go with fiber reactive dyes.
Exploring Shibori: a Japanese textile dyeing art
One of the dyeing processes I employ is shibori. Japanese shibori uses resists to create intricate patterns on cloth, similar but a bit more intricate than tie dye. One technique I enjoy is Nui shibori which uses stitches and ties. First, I stitch designs in the undyed or remnant fabric and then either include the prepared scarves when I send the Sympatico clothes off to be dyed. (The ties must be super strong to endure the agitation of a garment dyeing machine, and like the clothing, these are dyed using fiber reactive dyes.) Or, I prepare a dyebath, sometimes indigo, to dye the work in my home studio.
Shibori takes patience, but I find it meditative. Sometimes I work on shibori ties while I watch a TV series. And sometimes I take a shibori stitching project to the outdoor market to fill the quiet moments during the day.
The patience pays off with breathtaking patterns. I never know exactly what I’ll get because there are so many variables: how the fabric reacts to a particular tie or base color, dyebath intensity, time in the dyebath, etc. But that’s part of the fun.As I undo the folds, I anticipate the moment that each handmade scarf reveals its unique design.
Indigo silk organza scarf/wrap
Dyeing with metals
Most recently, I’ve been exploring metal dyeing. Before starting the dyeing process, I went on an adventure to a steel distributor plant to source unrusted metal. And I found a wealth of rusty iron and copper on my home site which has been occupied by humans for about a hundred years.
In metal dyeing, oxidized metals are used in combination with dyes and tannins (found in plants and fruits) to create beautiful colors. I’ve obtained rich shades of brown, grey, rust, and muted tones of eggplant and black and there’s lots more to explore with this technique.
The Alchemy Collection is my latest foray into metal mordanting. Explore the handmade scarves here.
Accessorize with Sympatico scarves
Elevate your wardrobe with our artisan-made scarf collection, ranging from subtle to striking designs. Whether you prefer understated elegance or bold statements, long or short styles, our scarves are the perfect accessory to complement your style.
Embrace one-of-a-kind style with our handmade scarves
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed this look into how I design our handmade Sympatico scarves. In the coming months, I plan to deepen my exploration into the art of dyeing. I love combining color, chemistry and natural textiles. And with dyeing, there’s more time spent up and moving around as opposed to sitting at sewing machines, which is something my body has been yearning for.
Shop our collection and add a touch of ethical elegance to your wardrobe today. Since this is a one-of-a-kind collection, if a particular scarf is calling to you, it’s best to order soon.
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