Shibori

Yesterday we held a Shibori workshop at the studio.  Shibori is essentially tie dye Japanese style.  Natural cloth fabric is wrapped, folded, stitched or wrapped up with rubber bands or string essentially you can do almost anything with your cloth to prepare for dyeing.

You can even wrap the fabric around plastic drainpipes. We stitched our fabric into a tube and wrapped string around the drainpipe pushing it down to scrunch it up:

A blue procion dye was added to a salt bath and the folded pieces of fabric, and drainpipes, were steeped in a dyebath, with soda ash added to help with the process, for about 90mins:

We then wrapped the dyed pieces in cling film and then transported them home leaving them to continue to soak up the dye overnight.  This morning they were unwrapped and released from their bindings (very carefully) and rinsed till the water ran clear.  Following this they were then put into a hot machine wash:

And here are the end results of some.  This pattern was made by wrapping a marble in the centre of the fabric and then tying with rubber band at intervals:

This  pattern was made by folding the fabric into triangles and pegging together.  The white rectangles were where the pressure from the pegs resisted the dye:

This pattern was made by wrapping marbles into the fabric and tying off with rubber bands.  The white circles where made from the bands resisting the dye:

These five circles where made by running stitches that were pulled up tightly:

This effect was made by folding the fabric in half, then quarters the rolled up and bound tightly with strong upholstery thread:

The fabric was folded like a concertina and wrapped with tread at intervals to make this pattern:

A wine cork was pushed into the fabri and strong upholstery thread wrapped around the length of the cork was used to make this effect:

Finally. the fabric for this effect was dampened and scrunched up tightly and bound with rubber bands to make this effect:

Now, what to make with them?  I think cushions, scarves and bags!