Shibori with Yoshiko Wada: III

There were twelve of us at the workshop so we took turns at the dye vat, making sure that we did not get too much air into the vat while agitating the bundles of fabric. I don't think we did that very well as the indigo dye did not survive well into the second day. Yoshiko and Colleen Weste revived it and we tried to be more careful.

While we took our turns at the dye vat, Yoshiko demonstrated the capping techniques using some special tools.

There was a 2-dollar shop downstairs and some of the others wrapped their fabric around strings of plastic beads. It was a simple and quick technique but very effective. Yoshiko was encouraging minimum effort, maximum results! I can't agree more.

We wrapped the fabric around the PVC pipe, tied with string and pushed each section up as tightly as possible. In the midst of all the action, it was actually quite difficult to keep up with taking photographs.

Another technique we touched on was using the sewing machine to help create the paths of resist. We laid layers of calico over the fabric. In this case, a bit of cotton/silk off cut that I found in my fabric stash. (I knew there was a reason I don't throw them away!)

I really liked this technique as it was quick and easy. The quick-unpick tool came in handy. It is like a combination of fold/clamp and stitching but gives quite clear, defined shapes.

You can see some of the works by the others in the class. They were far more patient than I with the multiple dipping into the dye vat. I think the piece at the back, with the circles was made with the machine stitching technique. the larger piece in the middle was stitched. and then some of the smaller examples in the front still has the knots and marbles in place.

Shibori with Yoshiko Wada: II

After rinsing out, the cloth was pressed and the patterns revealed themselves.

miura - pressed out

spider - pressed out

It was a 2-day workshop. On the first day, we also tried out some folding and clamping techniques. I learnt to fold some interesting shapes.

On the second day, we learnt Arashi (pole wrapping) techniques. I used a gauze cotton, folded it in half and wrapped it around the PVC pipe. I tied it with a crochet cotton.

I love this pale indigo colour. There were a few of us wanting to dye on the last day and we only had one dye vat. As a result, I took mine home still on the pipe, thinking that I may dye it again at a later date. Curiousity took hold and I unwrapped it. I untied it carefully so that I kept the cotton in one continuous length as it absorbed some dye and resulted in something I can use, maybe in my weaving!It was so similar to the folded feint* ruled paper!

*feint 2
— n
printing the narrowest rule used in the production of ruled paper
[C19: variant of faint ]
from www.dictionary.com

Shibori with Yoshiko Wada: I

I should be stitching my homework for tomorrow's class but I am too excited and needed to share.

I am lucky enough to get a place at the Shibori workshop with Yoshiko Wada, organised by Leanne from Kimono House. There are 12 of us and today, we learnt to do fold & clamp and some of the stitching techniques.

Yoshiko and Leanne had prepared a synthetic indigo dye bath for this workshop and we all had a chance to dip our samples into that today.

What was so exciting for me was to learn how to do these tying and stitching properly and effectively.

miura (loop binding) - tied

miura - untied

Note: the top 2 rows are demonstrated by Yoshiko and the bottom 2 rows are mine. You can see how even hers are, all in a straight line where as mine are all different sizes and a bit random.

spiderweb - tied

spiderweb - untied

I would like to get a sample for ori-nui (fold & stitch) done tonight. Tomorrow, we will move on to do arashi-patterned cloth (pole-wrapped).