Shibori Dyeing is one of the earliest techniques to dye cloth originating from Japan. There are an infinite number of ways one can bind, stitch, fold, twist, or compress cloth for shibori, and each way results in very different patterns. It is often done on natural fabrics, such as silk, hemp, or cotton. One can play around with colors, techniques and materials to add on the cloth in order to change the pattern.
- I used scoured muslin to do my Shibori dye. I first folded it into triangles and then used 3 rubber bands and tied them at 3 different points. I tried to make it as tight as possible so that the color doesn’t seep in that part.
- While I was doing the first step, the turmeric was simmering in a pot of water to dissolve completely and extract as much color as possible. After heating it for 20-30 minutes, I strained it.
- Then I added about 2-3 tbsp of soda ash to the pot in order to get the color change to red, as I got in my previous project. I stirred it to spread the color evenly. I let this solution sit for some time.
- I placed the folded muslin in it and to avoid it from floating on top I placed a spoon on it.
- I waited for about 10-15 mins for the dye to soak in and then kept it aside to dry.
- Finally I untied the rubber bands after 2 days and got an interesting pattern.
Here is my process:
I think that the pattern was quite similar to what I expected. It was fascinating to see the 3 circles around the triangles so distinctly. However the red color didn’t turn out like before. I think there are be two ways I could to make it darker: adding more soda ash or keeping the fabric in dye for longer. Nonetheless, I love the salmon pinkish color because it is very contemporary and chic. Overall I think that this technique could save us so much money if we use it instead of buying similar scarfs in stores. It is also very natural and sustainable, making it environment friendly. I think it should be spread around more so it becomes a trend or DIY for everyone.
