I can't believe a whole week has gone by since I attended the SPDG (Surface Pattern Design Guild) Shibori Workshop. How much fun was that! Master textile artist Anna Lisa Hedstrom taught us the simple and beautiful style of Itajime Shibori. Here are a few pics of our fun-filled day of folding, ironing, clamping and dyeing (followed by lots of oohing and aahing).
Beautiful samples from Anna Lisa's personal stash.
Anna Lisa explaining the concept of clamping wooden blocks around the folded fabric to create the resist pattern.
and ironing.
In addition to indigo, we used rust, red and peacock blue.
Note the greenish hue when the fabric first comes out of the indigo. Once it hits the air, oxidation occurs and changes it to the deep blue we know and love.
Then we chose various-shaped wooden blocks and used C clamps to create the resist.
The beautiful bubbling indigo brew.
Clamps are off and unfolding a rust-dyed sample.
We started with lots of folding...
Anna Lisa prepared the dyes.
Next we submerged our clamped fabric into the various dyes.
Rinsing..
and Voilá! here's an indigo sample still changing color in the air.
Line drying our beauties—we had a great variety!
And here's the gang proudly showing off our creations.
Thanks to the SPDG for putting this workshop together. I really learned a lot and had fun too! Can't wait for the next one!