Hi All!

Can you believe its already time for another Create and Share Challenge?!  There has been this beautiful dyeing technique I have seen all over lately that I have been dying to try called Shibori.  So this month I challenged the ladies from Create and Share to use this ancient Japanese technique to create something beautiful to share with you!  The results were stunning!

DIY Shibori Drop Cloth Pillow – Twelve on Main
Create and Share Challenge: Shibori- A Tea Towel Tutorial – Iris Nacole
Shibori Dyed Euro Pillows and Small Batch Shibori Dye Recipe – Pocketful of Posies
DIY Shibori Table Runner – Lovely Etc.
Arashi (Pole Wrapping Shibori) Dyed Lampshade – The Kim Six Fix
Shibori Table Cloth and Tote Bag – DIY Beautify 

For my Create and Share Shibori project I wanted to spruce up our bedroom a little bit and bring in some fun new colors for Spring to liven up the room a bit.  So I decided on Shibori Euro Shams for my bed.  They are super fast and easy to make and in the process of all of this I came up with a small batch Shibori Dye Recipe making it less expensive and way easier of a project!

• Indigo Tie Dye Kit
• Larger than Gallon Plastic Jug
• Measuring cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Stir Stick
• Fabric
• 2 Rimmed Cookie Sheets

 

I started by project by first preparing my Shibori Dye.  This Indigo Dye Kit comes with everything you need to make it including some of your dyeing supplies like wood squares, rubber bands, gloves, and all the chemicals.  But it is designed to make a 5 gallon vat of dye.  I don’t know about you but I certainly didn’t need 5 gallons worth of Indigo dye especially since the dye will only keep for a few days.  So after a great deal of math and measuring I created a small batch recipe allowing you to get 4 uses out of this one box.  A far more manageable amount.

Small Batch Shibori Dye Recipe

• Gallon size or larger plastic container with lid
• 16 cups of warm tap water
• 1.5 tsp indigo
• 4 tsps ash compound
• 1.5 tsp thlox compound

Using these measurements I followed the directions as included in the box.  I mixed all of this into a recycled plastic jug we had around the house.  I will say that while the opening of this container worked for my design something with a bit larger opening would have been nice.  So keep this in mind when selecting your design.

While waiting for my dye to settle I started folding the fabric for my pattern.   I wanted to make the standard window pane design because there is just something about it that I love.  It’s just the right amount of strict pattern and free forming watercolor that I love.

To make this pattern I first folded each of my fabric sections like and accordion.  Making each fold slightly larger then the wood blocks included in the kit.

Once it was all folded according style I started folding it vertically again in a accordion fashion.  Making each fold slightly larger then the wood but the same size and the previous fold.

In the end I was left with this nice little stack of fabric.  Then I applied the wood block to each end of the fabric making a sandwich of sorts and wrapped 4 rubber bands around it.  2 in each direction.  This holds the wood securely to the fabric creating a negative space when dying.

When my dye was finished resting I used two measuring cups to scoop the “bloom” off the top of the dye.

Then proceeded
to dunk my fabric into the vat.   Make sure not to drop the fabric into the dye because it will dye unevenly.

 

Hold the fabric in the dye and work with your fingers along the fold to encourage the dye to work into the folds.

 

I let mine sit for 4 minutes in the dye, then 5 minutes in the air then back into the dye for 4 minutes.

 

It is important to know that when you take it out that the color you see will be lighter in the end.  After rinsing then washing the fabric the dye lightens significantly.  That is why I recommend dipping it twice.

After the second dip I let the fabric sit in the air for about 20 minutes like this then rinsed and ran them through the light cycle on my washing machine and dried them.  Using my Envelope Pillow Method I created two quick covers for my Euro Pillows.

Get the full tutorial for my Envelope Pillow covers here.