This weekend we stuck around the house, handed out halloween candy on friday, went out to brunch and caught a matinee (that movie is cray) on Saturday and then spent Sunday dyeing our hearts out! This is my first time ever dyeing and let me just say it is SO addicting and SO MUCH FUN. Once I got started I wanted to dye EVERYTHING. No white surface is safe.
Above are a few of the finished products. These are the tea towels I made, dip dyeing a few (and some curtains) and also using some shibori techniques to make the different patterns.
Here are a few of the shibori tea towels once they were pulled out of the indigo dye. For this technique, I cut down various wood shapes (2 of each size) and then accordion folded the fabric to just a bit bigger than the wood shape. Once the fabric was folded up I sandwiched it between the two pieces of wood and secured it with rubber bands. Wherever the rubber bands and wood blocks make contact with the fabric is where the negative space (white space) shows in the pattern.
Experimenting with different shapes and different amounts of rubber bands create endless pattern options, I could seriously have kept going and going but I had already turned my entire backyard into a dye-house and damn daylight savings time was cramping my style. (Sidenote: the dye does keep for a couple days if you keep it in an airtight container).
I used this dye kit by Noon Design Studio which gave all the ingredients you need to make the dye, rubber gloves, rubber bands, and full instructions. Other items you will need are: a big bucket for the dye, the wood blocks in various shapes, clothes line/drying rack and the fabric for dyeing.
With how busy things have gotten with both A Sunny Afternoon and Smitten Studio lately, I haven’t made much time for anything but work or play in the form of travel. I forgot how much of a creative boost comes from trying out a new type of craft just for fun. I am currently on a maker’s high! Have you guys tried dyeing?
Images by me via iphone & instagram (I’m @sarahhermansamuel)
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My favorite color- blue!!! So inspired to try this, thank you Sarah. Beautiful pictures as always!
XO!
Jahaila over @ Girl Nesting
http://www.girlnesting.com
Love this! I was just telling my mom we should dip dye some curtains from Ikea for our new island home, now I am even more convinced!
Hi Melissa, yes! I got these curtains from Ikea as well. You will LOVE it and want to dye everything. 🙂
I’ve read your blog for ages but am kind of a blog “lurker” when it comes to commenting. This. Is. Fabulous. I saw your sneak peak in IG and knew it would be magic. Totally want to try it now. Cheers:)
haha thank you Heather! I have been guilty of being more of a lurker than a commenter sometimes too, so I appreciate the effort. 😉
Isn’t it fantastic?! I used the same kit this past summer and am hooked. Constantly thinking of what things I’ll dye next. Isn’t it so cool watching it turn neon green to dark green to blue? Are you dying anything for the baby room? I dyed so many of my sons clothes and two swaddle blankets. 🙂
Hi Stacey, yes! I am dying to dye more. ha I haven’t decided on a direction in the nursery yet but I died some heavy fabric that I may use to make a floor cushion for in there.
We shibori dyed a bunch of fabric to make bunting for a friend’s wedding in early Spring. We had so much fun and vowed to do it annually. I still smile when I use the old napkins I dyed and I feel like a bohemian princess in my indigo-dyed bed linens 🙂
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Have y’all installed faux grass? I keep looking at your backyard thinking it looks amazing.
Hi Sarah, No it is real grass, it just looks so perfect because we only re-turfed it with sod a couple months before. 🙂
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