Tag: willow print shibori

Club Indigo

If you have ever taken a dye class with me you are welcome to join Club Indigo.

I will open up my indigo vats on the first Sunday of every month in the dye studio at the Electric Needle from 11 am to 3 pm.

This is NOT a class. I will be dyeing but will be happy as always to give you my advice. If you want to work in shibori or batik, you are welcome to, but I can’t help a ton as my hands will be blue. Books, resources and tools will be available.

Bring your own fabric – limited to about 5 yards of fabric a club day. All fabric MUST be made of natural fibers. The Electric Needle is closed on Sunday so there will NOT be availability to purchase fabric on club days.

Pre-registration is required. After you have registered you will receive an email explaining how to join us.

The registration fee includes a minimum of 2 hours of dye time and 1/2 hour for clean up.

Be advised the dye studio is in the basement, you will need to be able to navigate a flight of steps to get to the studio. If this is impossible for you please call so we can arrange a private lesson.

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Olbrich Gardens Class

The classes at Paradigm Gardens are going really well, they are super awesome to work with!

I have a Shibori Class coming up on the 16th of August at Paradigm that still has some room.

I won’t be offering an Indigo 101 Class there in August, though.  It’s only because I’m teaching one at Olbrich Gardens.  It’s a teeny bit cheaper, it’s a teeny bit shorter with a little less fabric available, and it’s a big bit more outside.  It’ll be awesome and I hope you’ll sign up for it.

Shibori and Indigo Class Samples

Here’s their class description:

“Shibori and Indigo Dyeing Workshop

Join Jennifer Falkowski for a hands-on exploration of making patterns on fabric using Shibori methods of dyeing with a natural indigo vat. Shibori is a Japanese process of tying, folding, and clamping fabric to create beautiful patterns when dyed. You will learn four different patterns and make four large coordinating indigo-dyed cloth napkins to take home. No dyeing experience necessary. Plan to get messy – wear old clothes and shoes and bring one pair of rubber gloves and a plastic bag for carrying your work home. All other materials provided. Class meets outdoors (rain date August 25). Adults and youth (ages 12 and up w/ an adult); each attendee pays the registration fee. Limited space; register early.

Tuesday, August 18 (rain date August 25), 6-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline:  August 11

Cost: $78 per person | Course Number: 21-15″

and their registration form

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Arashi Again

This is the part of being obsessive that I love.  I spent my July 4th holiday wrapping fabric around poles and then dyeing it in indigo.  I can’t get enough of that arashi. There’s so much variation within this technique.   image11(2)

This is one that I wrapped, dyed, let dry on the pole, unwrapped, re-wrapped and over-dyed.  Whew.  I have to ask myself why.  It’s ok and all but whatever.  I don’t see the point in drying and then re-wrapping.  I must be doin’ it rong.image10(4)I won’t walk you through each one.image9(6)Though I do love this skinny one.  Fun to make, too.image8(7)I did throw in some itajime.  That’s the kind where you cover part of the fabric with blocks.  One cannot live by arashi alone.image7(8) image6(12)Love this.  Uneven pleats ftw!!image5(14)Also cool, if I may say so myself.  I accordion triangle folded it and then wrapped it.  Even fancier than it soundsimage4(13)Hell yes.  1/2 a yard of cotton looking fine!image3(13)Another variation on willow pattern.image2(13)Ok.  So I guess I kinda did walk you through each one

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But I did spend my day with them and perhaps I got attached.

Come and dye with me on Sunday, July 12 from 1 – 4 at Paradigm Gardens!!!  Call them to register at 608/241-3800.  That’s a week away.  Holy Cats Time!  Slow down!

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Willow Pattern

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I had an super awesome fun time making something pretty.  What could be better? First, random circles then…

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…messy pleating.  The messy part is not required but it’s just my way.

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Grab a short length of rope and…

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Wrap string around the rope and pleated piece of fabric.

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Till it looks like a cocoon.

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You don’t have to have a hole in your glove that turns your hand blue but it could happen.

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Dip it in the indigo lots of times so it really gets dark.

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Unwrap it, it’s an adventure!  Use a seam ripper or little embroidery scissors and BOOM you’ve made the willow pattern, my current favorite Shibori pattern.