New Square Silk Itajime Shibori Panels

detail of Bottle Green/Ocean Blue Silk Itajime panel

I wanted to do something different from the star patterns I have been exploring lately, so I got a bit creative when clamping down the resists. I had no idea what to expect when opening up the Bottle Green / Ocean Blue piece, but I am very happy with the result, and that's half the fun of the itajime folding technique, or any tie dye technique as far as I'm concerned.

I found a 1/4" ball hem sewing machine foot at work last week in an old notions box, tried it out and have decided it might be the perfect way to finish the silk pieces and make silk scarves for my Etsy Shop (soon to come!!)   I pre-finished these two square panels (prior to folding & dying them, but I think in the future I will finish all the hems after the fact rather that before as it will allow better control of the pattern and how the look.

More work to be done over the 3 day weekend!

Bottle Green & Ocean Blue Silk Itajime Panel

detail of Purple, Blue & Teal Silk Itajime Panel

                                                     Purple, Blue & Teal Silk Itajime Panel

Silk Itajime, breaking the rules!

Well, ever the conservationist, I feel terrible about the idea of dumping my poorly mixed dyes down the drain. After getting such beautiful results in Florida with better mixed dyes (thanks to Mom), I feel like I should start from scratch with freshly mixed, brighter dyes, but I thought I could get just one more set of silks dyed first.

Then I decided to break the rules. I decided to do an Orange /Purple panel fully knowing that I would most likely get mud color where they mix (or so I've been told). what do you think? I think rules are meant to be broken! This Panel will get cut down the middle to make 2 long silk scarves!

The Jewel tone Purple / Red / Bottle Green panel really did not look special when I finished putting dye down. I know that it was poorly folded (as you can see the dyed areas are different sizes). A cleaner fold will give a more consistent pattern. This one also kind of had a muddy look until I washed it out.

Success!

Jewel Tone Silk Panel & Orange / Purple Silk Panel

another view....

Family Time, dying fabrics in Florida!

warm tone Shibori Panel on Silk - By Soren

My Family was excited to break out the supplies when I went to Florida last week for vacation. I wanted to show them the Itajime folding/resist technique and they were excited about trying it out. With my family being all truly talented and skilled artists, i dont often get to show them somthing new, so this was very fun for me!

We mixed about 8 colors of procion dyes (from Dharma Trading) and I realized while watching my Mom blend the colors that I have been mixing my dyes way to pale. It is amazing what the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon of dye powder can do! We mostly worked with silk panels and the out comes are wonderful, we were all so excited to open them up 12 hours after dying, I swear I have never seen my little brother & sister get up so early in the morning, you would have thought it was Christmas morning!

Here are the results, we were very happy with them,

please tell us what you think!! enjoy!

                                                              Fushia Panel - By Sandy B.

Blue/Green/Fushia Shibori Panel on Silk - By Sarah

Tie-Dye Style cotton panel #1- By Ben B.

Tie-Dye Style cotton panel #2 - By Ben B.

red umbrella style folded silk panel - by Soren B.

 

                                                            orange/yellow panel - by Billy B.

                                                        Shibori Tee Shirt #1 - By Billy B.

New Dyed Panels!

I did these over the weekend. getting larger and larger pieces with better results. i think i need to re-mix my dyes, some of the colors are coming out very pale and washed out (yellow). the purple & orange piece is 2 full yards.

re-mixing colors and doing any projects with these pieces will have to wait! I'm headed to Florida to visit my family, I'm sure we will produce something, maybe some new tie-dye style shirts! i will post photos after my trip!

later today, i will upload some photos of my first silk dyed piece, its very pleasing and more will be in my future!

more photos... out to dry.

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getting started... what I'm up to!

Explorations in Itajime fabric dying. These pieces are hanging out to dry after unforldint hem for the first time. I love the geometric patterns and the suprise element involved.