Shibori

A method called 'Shibori' has been popping up over this last year and I've finally taken some action and got a book about it at the library. 'Shibori' is the Japanese word for a variety of ways of embellishing textiles by shaping cloth and securing it before dyeing.

Little did I know I had a natural affinity to this method that is a centuries old tradition in a variety of cultures--the Japanese use Shibori to detail their kimonos, they've been doing it for centuries.

When I look back on my first pieces, the tank pictured above comes to mind and it was one of my favorites. I like the opposition of colors and I like the vertical stripes and bands--a classic 'shibori' folding technique.

Nine months later, I have completed a long sleeve shirt (above) that I like--accomplished by folding into continuous pleats, then binding with rubberbands. Yet now I have a specific 'Shibori' term to associate this technique--tazuna shibori--stripes and bands. On my shirt I have hand-folded the pleats and alternated colors, giving it that tazuna look.

I am drawn to this method and want to explore more techniques associated with Shibori. These are centuries old traditional methods of dyeing textiles and I feel my own personal technique is 'Shibori-esque' for sure.  The element of surprise is always nice when you are unravelling a piece.  I take pride in each piece and am drawn to this quote:

"With shibori the dyer works in concert with the materials, not in an effort to overcome their limitations but to allow them full expression. And, an element of the unexpected is always present."