Shibori Summer

Hello and happy August. It has true been a summer, right? From a hot June, to a wet July and now here we are, August…hot and humid. It’s also the final countdown until the littles go back to school and while I am typically a touch sad…ours MUST get back to routine. From mornings in front of the tv, to Nerf attacks in the house, some learning and schedules will be good for everyone. In the meantime we are getting in all of our crafts that we have been talking about doing all summer including the stinky but stunning Shibori dip dye projects. Check them out!

To start, I purchased a Shibori kit and got my vat of dye going the night before my dip. The vat of dye is literally a living, breathing thing, it’s so crazy. It bubbles and makes a weird smell, and magically turns your cotton pieces from yellow to green to blue with the addition of oxygen. It is one of the most interesting artistic processes I have ever worked with. While it is cool, it is a delicate thing to handle…wear gloves and clothes that could get dye on them. Come prepared with all of your napkins, dishtowels, t-shirts and onesies ready to dip and dye. Wrap them in various ways using pieces of cardboard and rubber bands to make your negative patterns. Once your pieces have sat in the dye for awhile, take them out and let them dry, then remove the rubber bands to reveal the magic. To keep your vibrant blue tones, wash the pieces in a tub of cool water and vinegar before they make their way into your washing machine. This will cure the ink and keep the vibrancy.

A Shibori dip is a really fun activity to do with friends. Have someone organize the dye vat and you can dip and wrap for hours with friends…a glass of rosé is always a fun addition to the artists event as well. Happy August, happy dipping!