Wari Hat
Lesson by Leisa Rich, Atlanta, GA
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The Wari was a civilization that thrived around 500-900 A.D. in the south-central Andes and coastal area of modern day Peru. Works of art were an important way the Wari communicated. The textiles of the Wari were intricately woven, utilized complex designs, and were among the finest made in the region. The items made included headbands called Diadem (Diadem also referring to jeweled, metal crowns), hats, beautiful woven tunics that signified wealth and importance, and everyday items. Everything was made from wools and cotton. All of the fibers had to be spun, dyed and woven by hand. They were able to glean stunning, intense colors from natural dyes, colors that have held up well over time. Animal motifs were often used. In addition, as the Wari had no writing system, these textiles were an important means of communication. They spoke of humans, the natural, and even the supernatural realms through the subject matter used in the textiles. Being informed about, and inspired by, the past is helpful when creating. In this lesson, we’ll use the inspiration of the Wari history: its creations, motifs and techniques, to work on a hat design that can reflect our personal, creative ideas in the contemporary world of today.
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| Procedures Creating the Painted Fabric | Step 1 – Create hat pattern (at end of lesson) to fit diameter of head plus seam allowance for sewing together. Trace the hat pattern onto the canvas or cloth to see where the design should go. Step 2 – Layout fabric on a waterproof surface and paint a basic design with dye inside the hat pattern outline. Step 3 – Blow dry in between layers of dye and fabric pain throughout the process. Step 4 – Design stencils on poster board and cut out with X-ACTO mat knife or scissors.  Step 5 – Using a brush or stencil brush and fabric paint, carefully stencil designs onto dry painted surface. Dry with the blow dryer and iron.
Step 6 – To create bands of color, use tape and roll fabric paint on. Dry with the blow dryer and pull the tape off.
It is important that the design is ironed to heat set!
Finished design – spritzing design with diluted brown DyeNaFlow to achieve an aged look.
Step 7
Painted cloth cut out in shape of hat pattern.
Cut slits in each side of the triangle points BUT NOT ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH! Now you are ready to sew your hat together! |
| ProceduresSewing the Hat Together | Step 1 – Put the two sides of each triangle together and sew up each side (do all four) and turn them right side out: Step 2 – Sew up the back seam of the hat: Step 3 – Push the triangles flat into the good side of the hat: Step 4 – Sew (right sides together) the top of the hat to the body of the hat, with the triangles in between the layers: Step 5 – Turn right side out. |
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Other Paint Techniques |
Use the dye in a watercolor technique: Use the roller brush to apply translucent layers of dye: Create lines like weaving warp threads by dragging the side of the roller or the wood end of a paintbrush through the dye. |
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Other Paint Techniques |
Continue adding layers until desired effect: Add designs in other colors: Create a wash over the entire surface: Outline shapes and designs in contrasting colors:
Apply appliquéd fabric shapes to incorporate into design:
Tacky Glue can be used to attach fabric shapes for applique:
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