Easy Shibori Dyeing Method With Textile Paints – Quilting Daily

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Shibori techniques, or pattern resist dyeing, have been used for hundreds of years. The resulting shibori fabric (traditionally indigo blue) is treasured by fiber artists (I have an entire collection).

‘Serenity’ by Susan Purney Mark, using
soy wax and shibori resist dyeing.

In the February/March 2014 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine, Susan Purney Mark detailed a shibori dyeing method using soy wax, She made a tube of natural fabric, slid it over a PVC pipe, compressed the fabric, applied soy wax, and then applied fiber-reactive dyes.

This technique creates lovely organic patterns that hint at water, trees, or the veins on leaves.

But for those who don’t have a pipe or fiber-reactive dyes handy (or prefer not to work with dyes), Susan has a quick and easy alternative for how to “dye” fabric shibori-style: a wine bottle and diluted fabric paints.

Quick and Easy Shibori-style Method
By Susan Purney Mark

1. Pre-wash and dry the fabric. Stitch it into a tube and scrunch the fabric tube onto the wine bottle. Secure each end with rubber bands.

2. Melt the soy wax in an appropriate container and apply the wax to the fabric tube with a natural bristle brush. Leave some areas unwaxed so the paint can penetrate. Let the wax cool and harden (about 10 minutes). (You could also just skip this step and use the crumpled fabric as the resist.)

3. With a clean bristle brush, paint the textile paint onto the fabric. Let the fabric dry.

4. Remove the fabric from the bottle. Remove the stitching and press the fabric flat between layers of newspaper. This will remove some of the wax and heat-set the paint at the same time. Wash the fabric to remove the remaining wax.

This issue of Quilting Arts is full of fun and innovative fabric dyeing techniques, including digital drip dyeing by Diane Rusin Doran, painting with dye and glue gel resist by Barbara Warholic, iced parfait discharge by Bonnie Oulette, and dyeing vintage linens with fabric paint by Cheryl Sleboda.

Now you can get this issue–and the other five issues from 2014–all on one convenient, space-saving place in our Quilting Arts 2014 Collection. Order yours now so you can start creating today.

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