Shibori Workshop

Look what I made!
I took a Shibori workshop hosted by French Generals Fabric shop. I'm not really all that great when it comes to fabric related things, but I've always wanted to learn more. I've always been quite fond of Indigo color and Shibori just looks so nice. Shibori is a Japanese tie-dye technique using natural dye extracted from plants.  I think it's usually dark blue extracted from Indigo plants, but I've seen variety of other natural colors as well. I also love that it's non-toxic. Despite it being one of those rare rainy days in LA, it was such a wonderful day.

I'm going to put down the process as a reminder to myself in the future.

Material:
Fabrics (natural fiber for dying)
Latex gloves (to keep your hand from getting wet/dye)
Binding materials (Rubberbands, cotton strings, wooden pieces, pingpong balls, corks, etc)
Clamps or clothes pins
1 bucket of water (for presoak)
1 bucket of water (for dye)
Indigo Dye kit (Pre reduced Indigo Dye & Reducing agent )
A wooden stir stick.
Drying Rack (that will be okay if it is stained)
Vinegar
Water

Preperation for the Dye Vat:
a) Add dye and reducing agent.
b) Use the stirring stick and stir clockwise vigorously forming a vortex in the center of the bucket until a mass of bubbles forms there. (maybe 5 min)
c) When you see a mass of bubbles, slowly drag the stick the opposite way along the edge of the bucket making sure not to disturb the bubbles (bloom) at the center
e) Leave the mixture for an hour or overnight.
f) Once the vat is set, remove the bloom in the center with a strainer and it is ready.

Process:
1 - Choose a technique (Kumo, Itajime, Nui), and do it to the fabric you intend to dye.
2 - Soak the materials in the bucket of water for a few minutes. Wring out excess water.
3 - Dip fabric into indigo dye vat and leave it for 3 - 5 minutes (depending on fabric thickness)
4 - Slowly take material out and squeeze the dye back into the bucket.
5 - Put on drying rack and it will look green but will gradually turn blue as it is exposed to oxygen.
6 - Once the fabric is blue, repeat the process (3 -5 times. The more times, the deeper the blue)
7 - When happy with color, Rinse the fabric in water (use the presoak vat again and rinse until the water is clear.
8 - Let the material dry completely.
9 - Set colors by soaking in a mixture of 80% vinegar and 20 % water (overnight)
10 - Wash with blue jeans / dark clothes in a washing machine for final wash. Done!

Dye Kits:
http://www.frenchgeneral.com/products/indigo-dye-kit
http://www.amazon.com/Indigo-Kit-Natural-Clothing-Method/dp/B002E32N4W
http://www.noonbyjanepalmer.com/collections/noonindigo/products/natural-indigo-dye-kit?variant=1265320056
https://botanicalcolors.com/shop/kits/indigo-shibori-kit/

This is interesting info on indigo dyes :)
http://www.maiwa.com/pdf/organic_vat_data.pdf


We also got to learn Sashiko Stitching which was really fun too!
The teacher made this amazing quilt with Sashiko stitching