Long Thread Media Workshops

To download this video, please visit https://shop.longthreadmedia.com/products/designing-with-shibori-itajime-shibori-download.. This is a streaming-only video.

Shibori is the art of squeezing fabric while dyeing to create a pattern. Most of us are familiar with tied-resist dyeing. In itajime shibori, you create strikingly different patterns in fabric through precise folding and geometric resists.

These bold designs are suitable for everything from clothing and accessories to stunning wall hangings. In this video, artist and teacher Elizabeth McTear teaches everything you need to know to start exploring this ancient art.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• How to prepare a dye vat using eco-friendly dyes
• Classic itajime fold patterns: grid, triangle, half-triangle, circle
• How to layer shapes for more precise marks
• How to create layered dye patterns
• Safety tips for dyeing and for disposing of a finished dye vat

Itajime is one of those perfect crafts: it’s not hard to get started but the creative possibilities are endless, the process is meditative, and the results are spectacular. With Beth’s clear instructions, infectious humor, and helpful hints, you’ll soon be creating your own itajime masterpieces.

About the author: Elizabeth McTear is an artist and dyer who works primarily with natural and eco-friendly dyes. While earning her BFA at Moore College of Art and Design, Elizabeth learned about global textile traditions, including Mali tribal designs, Japanese traditions, and Scandinavian design—all points of reference in her work today. She teaches shibori and natural dyeing classes around the United States and runs her textile and dye company, Honest Alchemy, from her home in Pennsylvania.