Shibori Technique

1. Before dyeing, remove stains on the clothes. This enables to have straight color results while dyeing. Wash the prewashing item with warm and soapy water. This helps to remove all surfaces which may prevent dye absorption.

2. Cover the working place with a plastic tablecloth and use practical paper towels to protect against possible spills.

3. Wet the fabric.

4. To form a traditional Arashi pattern, fold the length of the fabric in the form of accordion curves or in the 3 or 4 width. This will form a long rectangle. Change the convolution and width of the folds to obtain more pattern variations.

5. After the fabric is folded into a long rectangle, fix one tip of the fabric rectangle to a PVC pipe or a stick with a gum band.

6. Then wrap the fabric rectangle tightly around the pipe or stick, avoiding overlapping.

7. After wrapping fabric over the pipe or stick fully, fix the other tip with gum band.

8. Tighten the entire fabric very tightly to the top of the pipe or stick.

9. Fill a plastic container or stainless steel sink with enough water to allow the fabric to move freely. Water should be 60ºC ideally. If the tap water is not hot enough, heat the water in the oven and add to the dye liquor.

10. To boost the color: (1) add a glass of salt while dyeing fabrics containing cotton, rayon, ramie and linen; (2) add a glass of vinegar while dyeing fabrics containing nylon, silk or wool.

11. Add a tea spoon of dishwashing liquid to support level dyeing.

12. One package of Viktoria dye paints 200 gr fabric.

13. Add the bandaged fabric to the dye liquor. If the fabric on the pipe or stick is too long to fit into the dye liquor, use a measuring cup to cast paint onto the fabric. Keep the wrapped fabric for about 3 to 5 minutes to ensure that the wrapped part remains undyed for the high contrast mold. For more color and less white areas, allow the wrapped fabric to be in the dye liquor for 10 to 20 minutes.

14. When the desired color is achieved, remove the wrapped fabric from the dye base. Do not separate the fabric from the pipe or stick.

15. We strongly recommend that you use the Fiske Fabric Dye Stabilizer just before dyeing and before washing.

16. Rinse in cold water till the rinse water begins to clarify.

17. Carefully separate the fabric from the pipe or pole.

18. Wash with warm water and mild detergent, then rinse and dry.

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