Dyeing Techniques: Shibori

Shibori Techniques

This was one weekend I was grateful for poor weather. Having an excuse to not go out meant I could play for hours on end, and so I did. I've been planning to try out some dyeing techniques from a new book, Shibori by Janice Gunner, and this was perfect timing.

This was really my first introduction to manipulating fabric before dying. I was the one kid in the 70's that never did tie dye at summer camp. I have had some experience now with the Procion MX dyes, and that has been a great help. I really had no plan going into the studio except to try several variations.

Here I started with a simple accordion folding tecnique, and a cylindrical jar. I was surprised at the amount of undyed areas.

This one was my first attempt at stitching. Tiny buttons were placed on the fabric, and I sewed them in. It's certainly not a beauty, but I was still excited to see the outcome.

This idea required a trip to the home center for a piece of 4" PVC pipe. I sewed a sleeve in the length of fabric, scrunched it down tightly, and used a dye. A fairly large amount of dye was required to accommodate the pipe width and height, and I found myself becoming very creative to work it all out. Also, in my excitement I didn't take the time to cut down my 5' piece of pipe, and it was an interesting scene while I was rinsing it at the sink!

I saw this threesome together, and all I could think of was, "What can I do next?"

I took home pieces of fabric I had already marked off for folding and stitching. While we spent the evening watching t.v., I stitched. When all the threads were pulled tight, it was barely recognizable.

Early Sunday, I started mixing dyes. When the fabrics had processed and I pulled them out, I was reminded of some ruffled exotic animal coming out of the sea. The anticipation at this point was killing me.

Carefully I snipped stitches, and pulled out the wet threads. Such a variety appeared using all the same pattern and technique.

This piece shrunk down to 1/3 its size with all the gathers. You can easily see the gridded pattern here.

You'd think it was Christmas morning each time I opened one of these. I was giggly, and oooing and ahhing--shamefully giddy! This, my friends, might be addictive.

Dried and pressed, this beautiful, rectangular grid appeared. I have always loved the beauty of commercially made fabric, but the organic nature of Shibori is like looking at water. The resist creates movement, and I never seem to grow tired of looking at it.

I hope you enjoyed the eye candy today.

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

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