There's a lot of satisfaction when working with dye and creating fun projects! In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to dye 2 different Shibori style bandanas - the Marble Fold & Rectangle Fold.
The Marble Fold
What you'll need: a rubber band
Step 1: Starting at one corner, start scrunching the fabric inward towards itself
Step 2: Finish scrunching
Step 3: Secure with a rubber band
The Rectangle Fold
What you'll need: 2-3 rubber bands and 2-4 popsicle sticks depending on how strong you want your resist.
Step 1: Fold into an accordion with each fold being about 2" wide
Step 2: Fold in half lengthwise, then fold each edge back towards the center. It will look like an "M" or a "W".
Step 3: Place popsicle sticks on either side and secure with rubber bands.
Materials
- 1 AFC Shibori Dye Kit
- includes 2 - 22” x 22” / 55 cm x 55 cm cotton bandanas
- Fiber reactive dye
- Soda ash
- Clothespins
- Rubber bands
- Popsicle sticks
Other Materials
- Dust Mask
- Rubber Gloves
- Spoon or whisk for stirring
- 1 cup of hot or boiling water
- 4 cups of tepid water
- 1 cup of hot water
- 2 cups or mason jars for mixing your dye and soda ash
- Plastic Shoe Box container, small bucket or similar for dye vat
Instructions:
Before starting protect your work surface either using painters fabric, saran wrap, or similar material. Please wear a dust mask when working with powdered dye. Once your dye is in the water, you may remove your mask.
- Start by folding your bandanas.
- Prepare dye by adding Fiber Reactive Dye Packet to 1 cup of hot water. Stir to blend.
- Add 6 cups of tepid water to dye vat. Soak the tied and bundled bandanas.
- Dissolve soda ash by adding soda ash packet to 1 cup of hot or boiling water. Stir well to dissolve.
- Remove fabric from water bath and squeeze out excess water.
- Add dye solution and soda ash mixture to water in dye vat, stir to blend.
- Submerge fabric in dye bath for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The longer you let it set the darker your colors will be.
- Remove fabric from dye bath, rinse, unfold, rinse again, and dry.
Apply this technique to pillow cases, tea towels, Tunisian beach towels, etc! This method works best when using indigo or fiber reactive dye and natural fibers like cotton and linen.
