Indigo Shibori Dyeing

Learn the fascinating art of shibori dyeing! In this workshop, we'll explore shibori from many angles; you'll learn several different shibori techniques and dye a whole bunch of things, from clothing to accessories to home decor.

What is shibori? It's a Japanese dyeing technique that typically involves folding, twisting or bunching cloth and binding it, then dyeing it in indigo. Whatever is used to bind the fabric will resist the dye, resulting in areas of the cloth that take the distinctive blue dye in patterns created by the resistance, and other areas of the cloth that remain white. Shibori is a very vast technique and there are tons of ways to do it (and a truly infinite number of patterns you can create), and in this class you'll get an in-depth look at several of them.

The workshop will begin with a demonstration of basic shibori and an overview of some of the patterns you can create. Then, you'll dye a small swatch of white fabric to try your hand and get a feel for the technique.

Once you start to get the hang of things, you'll put your knowledge to work as you dye 2-3 of your own items.

Price includes dyes and plain fabric for experimenting; students should bring their own items to dye.

Items to dye must be 100% cotton or other natural fiber, white, and should be small- or medium-sized items. Ideal items include button-down shirts, t-shirts, tanks, leggings, white jeans, dish towels, pillow cases, etc. Please do not bring large items like curtains or bed sheets, as we won't have enough space to accommodate large pieces. Old items with stains are ideal, as the stains can be covered with dye!

Shibori dyeing is truly an amazing craft, as every piece you dye is a little bit of a mystery. We promise you'll love the process of folding fabric, dyeing it, then unfolding it to reveal the organic results. Join us for an amazing afternoon of shibori magic!