Itajime Shibori → DVD (Ships Same Day)

Today we love the bold contemporary patterns of Itajime….perfect for modular quilts, home decoration, wall hangings and wearable art. Small square fabrics are wonderful when used as Quilting Squares. Different weaves ( sheer or heavy) and fibers (silk, wool, cotton, linen) invite for different dye applications and treatments. Ana Lisa uses Itajime folding on silk organza before resist scouring to remove the stiff sericin on the exposed cloth. Wonderful bold areas of opaque and sheer areas are created. This can be enhanced by dyeing, and is particularly effective with the application of thickened fiber reactive dye (Proceon MX Dye). The dye will be deeper and a different hue on the areas with sericin that were resisted by the blocks.

Another exciting possibility is found in the Japanese and Chinese traditions of Kyokechi and Chinese Carved Clamps (Jiaxie). The boards are carved with matching designs, often pictorial images of flowers, figures, and birds. The dye flows into the carved maze. Ana Lisa shows traditional examples and shares contemporary alternatives, especially using CNC routers (Computer numerically controlled) to make precisely carved channels which will match on both blocks.