Shibori Dyeing
Using Rit Dyes
Quilting Arts TV
series 500
project 504-2
By Dianne Giancola
Sponsored by Rit Dye
Host Pokey Bolton on set with Dianne
Giancola.
Materials List
•Rit dye, Powder or Liquid
•Cotton Fabric
•PVC Pipe, 4” diameter x 12”
•Ball of Cotton Twine or Mason Line
•Masking Tape
•Rubber Bands
•4-Cup Measuring Cup
•Large Spoon
•Rubber Gloves
•Foam Brush
•Rubber Bands
•Plastic Tray
•Large 3-Gallon Plastic Container
for dyeing
•1 Cup Plastic Container for dyeing
•2 Plastic Squirt Bottles
•Small Plastic Containers
•Plastic Table Cover
Pillows Made Using Shibori Dyed Fabrics. • Envelope Pillow—Fabric was dyed using a wrapping
technique around a PV C pipe. The flap is dyed in Violet and the bottom and back are done in
Apple Green. Note: Buttons can be dyed to match for a color coordinated look – big advantage
of this user friendly dye! • Large 16" Pillow—abric was dyed using a hand-stitching technique as
a resist. Sunshine Orange and Violet dyes were used. • Small 14" Pillow – Fabric was dyed using
a flag-fold technique with rubber bands used to bind the corners. Golden Yellow and Teal dyes
were used.
S hibori -W rap D yeing
Using this technique, fabric is wrapped with twine
around a PVC pipe and then pushed together or
compressed. This creates the resist which forms the
patterns in the fabric. The fabric is wrapped dry and
then later soaked in water before dyeing.
1. Cut fabric to an 18” square.
2. Wrap fabric around a 4” diameter
PVC pipe cut to a 12” length and
secure one end with a rubber
band. (You can also wrap the fabric
diagonally around the pipe to create
a different effect.) Secure the other
end with a piece of masking tape.
3. Tie a piece of twine or cotton
mason line around one end of the
pipe. Then wrap the twine around
the pipe, spacing the wraps about
quiltingartstv.com • interweavestore.com • ©Aspire Media LLC 2010
½” apart, for 4”. Then stop and
push the fabric down to the end of
the pipe. The tighter the fabric is
This PDF is for personal use only.
Quilting Arts TV
series 500
project 504-2
Other shibori color
recipes
1 T. Royal Blue + 2
Gallons HOT Water
1 T. Purple + 1 Cup
HOT Water (Brush
on)
Above: Wrapped fabric in dye bath.
½ C. Lemon Yellow +
2 Gallons HOT Water
Right: Teal dye brushed on yellow fabric turns
1 T. Scarlet + 1 Cup
HOT water (Brush
on)
compressed, the less the dye that
will be able to penetrate the fabric. Continue wrapping and pushing the
fabric until it is all pushed down. Secure end of twine with a knot.
fabric in dye bath. Let set for 4 – 6
minutes.
2. Rit Teal Liquid Dye: Measure 1
Tablespoon Teal dye into a small
plastic container; add 1 Cup very
water; stir.
4. Immerse wrapped fabric in warm
water for several minutes. This will
help the dye move onto the fabric
more easily.
dye bath. Place on plastic tray. Using foam brush, brush Teal dye
horizontally around wrapped fabric. Let set 1 – 2 minutes. Notice that
Yellow and Teal Blue make Green.
¾ Cup Violet + 3
Gallons Hot Water
(diagonal wrap)
4. Then rinse dyed fabric in cold water. Remove twine or string. Continue
rinsing fabric in warm water then
gradually cooler water until water
runs clear. Then launder in warm
water with mild detergent. Dry flat.
1. Rit Golden Yellow Liquid Dye: Shake liquid dye before measuring. Wearing rubber gloves, pour ½ cup
dye into a measuring cup, add 4
cups very HOT water; stir. Pour
dye solution into a large plastic
container. Add 2 Gallons very
HOT water; stir. Immerse wrapped
½ Cup Apple Green +
2 Gallons Hot Water
3. Remove wrapped fabric from
Preparing Rit Dye
Rit is a user friendly, all-purpose dye. It’s non-toxic and safe to use – you don’t
have to wear a face mask when using it. It’s available both as a powder a liquid. The liquid dye is already mixed and it’s
more concentrated than the powder.
Single color shibori
½ Cup Fuchsia + 2
Gallons Hot Water
5. The result is wavy lines and stripes
quiltingartstv.com • interweavestore.com • ©Aspire Media LLC 2010
that have a bamboo like look to
them. Sometimes you can actually
see the wrapping details from the
twine. This adds a lot of texture to
the pattern.
½ Cup Evening Blue
+ 2 Gallons Hot
Water
This PDF is for personal use only.
Quilting Arts TV
series 500
project 504-2
Left: Piece demonstrated on show
Right: Fabric
gathered
S hibori
hand stitched dyeing
The Japanese often use “stitching” as a
resist when dyeing fabric. The stitching
helps to create a great variety of designs
from simple to complex and abstract. Long hand-running stitches can be
used to create a vertical striated pattern. Sometimes it looks like wood grain.
1. Cut fabric to a fat quarter size, 18”
x 22”.
2. Draw chalk lines in the long
direction about 2” apart.
3. Using a hand embroidery needle
and topstitching thread, sew long
running stitches over marked lines.
4. After all the stitching is completed,
2. Remove tied fabric from water.
Squeeze out excess water. Place
fabric on small plastic tray or plastic
dish. Apply Sunshine Orange over
the pleated fabric. Turn and apply to
other side.
pull the threads to gather the fabric
and knot the threads to hold the
pleats in place. 5. Immerse the tied fabric in warm
water while preparing the dyes.
Preparing Rit Dye
6. The dyes were mixed following the
3. Then apply Violet dye randomly to
folds. 4. Cover plastic dish with lid. Don’t
make tight. Line microwave with
paper towels. . Heat set dyes in
the microwave on HIGH for 1 - 2
minutes. This creates a heat chamber
that helps the dye penetrate and
migrate onto the fibers.
recipe below and then poured into
squirt bottles so it’s easier to apply
the dyes directly where you want
them. You have more control.
1. Wearing rubber gloves, measure and
mix the dyes and pour into squirt
bottles.
1 T. Sunshine Orange + 2 Cups very HOT Water
1 T. Violet + 1 Cup very HOT
Water
5. Wearing rubber gloves, carefully
quiltingartstv.com • interweavestore.com • ©Aspire Media LLC 2010
remove from the microwave. Rinse
in cool water and cut threads. Rinse
in Warm Water first, then gradually
Cooler Water until water runs clear. Wash in Warm Water with mild
detergent; rinse and dry flat.
Other Shibori
Hand-Stitched Color
Samples & Recipes
1 T. Fuchsia + 2 Cups
Hot Water (squirt
on)
1 T. Purple + 1 Cup
Hot Water (squirt
on last)
2 Teas. Lemon Yellow
+ 4 Cups Hot Water
(squirt on)
1 T. Scarlet + 1 Cup
Hot Water (squirt on)
1 T. Tangerine + 1 Cup
Hot Water (squirt on)
This PDF is for personal use only.
Quilting Arts TV
series 500
project 504-2
F lag F old S hibori
The intricate patterns in this dyed fabric
were created by folding the fabric like
a flag and binding the corners with
rubber bands. The folded fabric is dyed
Petal Pink first and then the corners
are dipped in Purple, which creates the
pink/purple patterns. It’s fun to see the
effects of color mixing!
Left: Piece demonstrated on show
1. Cut fabric to a fat quarter size, 18”
x 22”. Fold fabric into thirds in the
long direction. Press with an iron
for crisp lines.
2. Then flag-fold the fabric, moving
the strip of fabric back and forth so
the folds are on the outside of the
triangle. Press with an iron for crisp
lines.
3. Bind off the corners of the triangle
with rubber bands, placing them
about 1” from tips.
Above: Flag fold the fabric
Right: Bind off the corners
with rubber bands.
4. Place folded fabric in warm water
while preparing the dyes. 5. Preparing the dyes: Wearing rubber
in cool water and remove rubber
bands. Rinse in warm water first,
then gradually cooler sater until
water runs clear. Wash in warm
water with mild detergent; rinse and
dry flat.
gloves, measure and mix the dyes.
½ Cup Petal Pink + 4 Cups very Hot
Water
1 T. Purple + 1 Cup very Hot Water (dip ends in Purple)
6. Remove tied fabric from water. Squeeze out excess water. Place in
plastic dish. Pour Petal Pink dye
over flag-folded fabric. Open folds
with a spoon to help dye penetrate
fabric. Push down with spoon as
well. Then remove folded fabric
from dye and squeeze out excess
dye.
Other flag-fold color
recipe
7. Dip corners in Purple dye.
8. Place in plastic container and cover
with lid. Heat set in microwave for
2 minutes.
9. Wearing rubber gloves, carefully
remove from the microwave. Rinse
½ Cup Golden Yellow Liquid + 4 Cups very
HOT Water
1 T. Teal Liquid + 1 Cup very HOT Water
quiltingartstv.com • interweavestore.com • ©Aspire Media LLC 2010
This PDF is for personal use only.