Shibori Class for Adults
This is a 33-hour project-based class suitable for adults (age 16 or above), to be held over 5 weekdays.
Projects for Shibori Class
Learn several traditional Japanese shibori techniques while creating fabrics for several useful household or personal items. Arashi, fold and clamp, stitched shibori, dye discharge, and burn out techniques will be introduced.
You will learn to use both hot and cold water dyes, and the circumstances that require which type.
We will be designing fabrics in the class, not sewing. If you wish to make the suggested projects, sewing can be done later, at home.
Place mats: Techniques are five basic arashi shibori styles (horizontal lines, diagonal lines, “diamonds,” meandering horizontal lines, meandering vertical lines) and one not-so-basic style (the “net” pattern). Use silk noil strips, which can be pieced together later to make a set of 4-8 place mats. (Additional purchased coordinating fabric will be required.)
Materials: 2 yds. Silk Noil, Cotton string or loom warp, acid dyes/dye chemicals, sewing machine thread, masking tape
Square Tablecloth: Use pleated arashi shibori (diagonal lines or “diamonds”) on cotton gauze to make a small square casual table covering. Apply beads to the corners later on for a beautiful custom finish.
Materials: 50” X 50” wide cotton gauze, MX dye, dye chemicals, cotton string or loom warp, masking tape
Patterned and pleated small scarf: Use discharge technique and fold and clamp shibori, followed by pleated arashi shibori to make a patterned and permanently pleated silk habotai scarf.
Materials: 11” X 60” Black silk habotai prehemmed scarf, Thiox/Discharge chemicals, cotton string or loom warp, contact paper, acid dye/dye chemicals, masking tape
Organza shawl: Fold and clamp shibori on organza, scour, and dye. Then add pleated arashi shibori.
Materials: 1 ½ yds. Silk organza, silk thread for hemming, soda ash, contact paper, acid dyes/dye chemicals, cotton string or loom warp, masking tape.
Long pleated “rainbow” scarf: Use silk habotai. Rainbow dye, then add pleated arashi shibori and later, beading.
Materials: 22” X 72” silk habotai prehemmed scarf, MX stock dyes, soda ash, Acid dyes/dye chemicals, cotton string or loom warp, masking tape
Velvet treasure bag: Use a strip of silk/rayon velvet. Devore on half with “diamond” arashi shibori, and dye the other half in one of the two dyes used on the first strip. Later on use the pieces to sew an elegant draw-string bag for small valuables.
Materials: ½ yd. silk rayon velvet, cut into 2 strips, fiber etch, MX dye/dye chemicals, Acid dye/dye chemicals, cotton string or loom warp, masking tape
Pillow top: Hand-stitched shibori on silk charmeuse. Dye a second piece along with the first to later sew a small decorative pillow.
Materials: ½ yd. silk charmeuse, cut into 2 equal rectangular pieces, button hole twist thread, acid dye/dye chemicals
“Flower” scarf: (Courtesy of Marjorie MacDonald) Dye a piece of silk charmeuse. Arashi shibori with diagonal straight pleats and dye a second color. Finish edges on sewing machine with a zig-zag stitch. Use one of the scarf colors as the sewing thread and the other color as the bobbin thread. This hem treatment gives a scalloped edge. The scarf can be folded easily into a flower design on the neck of the wearer
Materials: 9” X 54” strip of silk charmeuse, unhemmed, cotton string or loom warp, masking tape, MX dye and Acid dye/ or 2 acid dyes/dye chemicals, sewing thread (2 colors)
Handouts: Acid Dyes, MX Dyes, Discharging dyes, Scouring Silk, Devore, Low level immersion dyeing, Resources for shibori
Consumable materials for this class will cost about $85.00
Other materials you’ll need: respirator, apron, goggles (if you don’t wear glasses), Platex gloves. Bring these with you to class.