I’m literally, dying.

I get a little obsessed with things.

Every year when we go to Maine for our family vacation, we all do a craft project together, it sort of happens organically the desire to have a momento of time well spent, drinks well drunk, cards well played and waves well surfed.  The last few years it’s been tie-dyes. We dye nightgowns then play cards all night like grown up giggling twins, the kids dye t-shirts…heck we all dye t-shirts…when there’s dye left over we dye our underwear and socks…it’s goofy and superfun. Then, just to prove we’re related we take a group shot, sealing up the memory like a time capsule. A glorious little funny to be opened with a smile later.

This year, I’m going prepared. And by prepared, I mean pinning dying ideas to my pinterest board like a maniac! (See my pin board here) While gathering all the pins, I was reminded of the magic of shibori. It’s like tie-dye plus geometry and maybe a little math thrown in. I like the planning and forethought that’s needed. I like the varying techniques and endless results.

Shibori is a japanese dying technique, here is a link if you’d like to know more: Shibori Wiki

The techniques I tried are Arashi Shibori (pole wrapping) and Itajime Shibori (shape resist).

From left to right: blue nightgown (itajime polkadots, blue stick wedgie (not sure of the technique but it’s folded accordion style then lashed between two sticks with string and rubber bands, hooded linen shirt (Arashi), white long sleeve linen shirt (Itajime squares), orange tank top (itajime star).

Once the items are in the dye bath it’s like waiting for your parents to eat a leisurely and torturous breakfast while waiting to open your Christmas presents……time slows down. One hour feels like days when all you can think about WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE inside those crazy strings and rubber bands!!! Thus, I’m dying. I think I might have died with all the waiting.

For my first attempt at this I think it worked pretty darn well! I especially love the vertically striped  shirt. One sleeve is darker than the other because the pole was too tall to fit in the dye bucket so i kept pouring dye over  the top. I think the action of the dye running down the tube infiltrate the strings. What a happy accident!

I’m so obsessed that I might spend all day tomorrow dying handerchiefs and kitchen towels and pillow cases and yoga pants and bedspreads and dresses and underwear and….socks….and…

🙂

Have you tried shibori?

Who wants to come over and dye with me?

Yours,

Deb

Clockwise from top left: Blue double stick wedgie beach cover up, square itajime, blue polka dot nightgown, orange star tank top, Arashi linen shirt.