Shibori
Mondays, June 16, 23, 30 from 8 am – 4 pm
 
In the month of June you will learn, practice, and create with a few of the many Japanese Shibori techniques to create patterns and visual textures. We’ll use blocks, string, thread, rubber bands, PVC pipe and more as tools to achieve a “resist” – bunching, compressing, or blocking the fabric to prevent dye from reaching the target textile according to your design. 
 
“Shibori” is to construct barriers that prevent dye from reaching specific areas of your textile, then immersing the piece in a dye bath. The result is a negative image, with the background dyed and the image the color of the fabric. In this workshop you will make dye baths from Bluebird Dye Garden plants, and learn about preparing textiles for botanical dyes with mordants. My preference is often to combine techniques, which we will play with as well.
 
The mornings are for the dye garden. Depending upon the time of year, we might be planting, weeding, or harvesting. Time in the garden is great for getting to know the plants and their individual personalities, and the other beings that like to BEE in the garden. Knowing the plants gives you a connection that goes all the way to your finished dyed piece. 
 
There are countless aspects to botanical dyeing. Here and there, we’ll talk about cultivating dye plants, mordants, science, history and more to give you a well-rounded feel for working with plant dyes. You will take home your finished textiles, your practice pieces, and handouts that correlate with the workshop activities.
 
Details 
 
You are welcome to bring any number of garments/textiles/yarn/roving under a total weight of three pounds (1,350 g) per session. 
For the Shibori, Inks & Paints, and Ecoprinting sessions, fabric must be either white or natural cellulose (cotton, rayon, hemp, bamboo, etc.). If your textiles are not new items, please scour them before coming to the workshop. (See https://www.fiberartsy.com/how-to-scour-fabric/ for instructions on scouring.) If they are new, please machine wash in hot water. 
For the Plant Dyes & Wool session, please bring white or cream wool yarn and/or roving. If you have wool scarves or sweaters (etc.), you can dye those too.  
Please bring a sack lunch, hat, water bottle, sunscreen, and garden-friendly shoes. We will provide refreshments and snacks.