#LibertyCraftClub: Shibori with Hannah
Learn the art of shibori with our very own Lead Creative
Read MoreShibori with Hannah
Learn the art of shibori with our very own Lead Creative
Shop CraftAs we adjust to life indoors, our team share how they are staying inspired and creative at home – offering up some crafty tips and tricks along the way. For this instalment, Lead Creative Hannah shows us how to master the art of shibori.
“Shibori is an ancient form of resistant dying from Japan. It’s so satisfying because there’s always an element of surprise when you unravel your textiles, hoping to find an amazing pattern.”
What You’ll Need
Big pot half full of water - not to be used for cooking again
Natural fabric - (cotton, wool, silk or linen)
Black beans - I used 2kg
Rope or string
Some cardboard or wood
Step 1: Prep
Prep your fabric (even if it’s new) by giving it a thorough wash, to remove any dirt or preservatives. It’s also good to soak the fabric overnight in cold water. Prep your dye by putting your black beans in a dye pot with cold water overnight, making sure to use enough water to cover your fabric when you come to dye it.
Step 2: Fold or Stitch
Take your fabric and fold or stitch it into your desired pattern. For the square shibori print, fold your fabric in a concertina along the length and then the width making it a small square. Bind it tightly with string to hold its shape, adding two cardboard or wooden squares on each side as blockers for the dye. For stitching, make a long running stitch in a line making sure to knot one end, then pull the other end tightly to gather it. Once it’s is pulled as tight as you can, knot it off.
Step 3: Dye
Once everything is tied up you are ready to dye. Place the fabric in your dye pot making sure it’s fully covered with water - you can always weigh it down with something heavy if you need to. Leave the fabric to sit for six-24 hours, the longer you leave it, the richer the colour will be. Remember the dye will always rinse out lighter than it looks in the dye pot.
Step 4: Rinse and Dry
Remove your fabric from the dye pot, ringing out any excess dye and giving it a quick rinse in cold water. Cut the binding ropes or threads and unravel your design. This is the most exciting part, seeing if the design has worked. Next, give everything a good rinse until the water runs clear and hang up to dry out of direct sunlight.