I stepped out of my Comfort Zone and into the world of Indigo Dyeing, Shibori, and Iron Rust dyeing. Big thank you to Joy, I was on the verge of withdrawing my participation before her gentle encouragement gave me the inspiration to have a go! The nine of us were brilliantly supported by Helen who cooked us delicious lunches and dinners and spread out tea breaks so we could get on with our endeavours. (and in between all of that Helen produced 2 beautiful paintings). Calli (Jane Callendar) led us through the techniques that make for successful dyeing, stitching, clamping; gave us background information to Indigo and how it works; set up 3 indigo vats, an Iron Rust vat and a Tea vat; and ensured a safe working environment. Given that we all began with plain pieces of cloth the variety of the samples was amazing, highlighting the endless possibilities Shibori offers. Check out Calli’s website, get your hands on some product and dye away with your own Indigo vat, or Iron Rust vat, it is very rewarding.
Steele’s Island was the venue – a brilliant choice – scenery, privacy, comfort, space. The workshop was under the umbrella of the HandWeavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild of Tasmania, and again, Joy worked tirelessly to set it up, mother it through the weekend and have it all stowed away in time on the exit day. Belonging to this Guild offers so many opportunities to extend your own craft, I recommend membership.
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- My variety of work over the 2.5 day workshop.
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- A pongee silk piece. Mokume shibori resist dyed with 5 immersions in medium Indigo vat then 40 minute immersion in the Iron Rust vat.
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- Cotton lawn piece used to protect a pongee silk piece. Mokume shibori resist dyed with 5 immersions in medium Indigo vat then 40 minute immersion in the Iron Rust vat.
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- Silk Noil clamped then dyed in the medium Indigo vat.
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- Pongee silk dyed in the light indigo vat, then clamped and over-dyed in the medium Indigo vat.
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- My 24 cotton protectors for the silk shibori binding. Treasures in their own right.
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- My Sea Foam scarf – habitué silk – indigo dyed and shibori resisted by bead binding and tube roping.
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- My Sea Foam scarf – habitué silk bead bound for resist, tube tied for added resist and 4 medium indigo vat dunks.
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- My Tiger Scarf. Habitue silk scarf dyed with Iron Rust and clamped then dunked in the Tea Vat. It makes me think Tasmanian Tiger.
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- My Tiger Scarf – habitué silk – been through the Iron Rust vat and now being folded before clamping.
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- My ‘flowerpot’ piece – tied, tubed, stitched – on cotton lawn and ready for the medium indigo vat.
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- My ‘flowerpot’ piece – tied, tubed, stitched – on cotton lawn and 4 dips of the medium indigo vat
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- My ‘flowerpot’ piece – tied, tubed, stitched – on cotton lawn been through Indigo vat, then permanganate and citric before the Iron Rust pot.
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- My first stitches on what will become my sampler.
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- The Sampler result – must stitch and tie tighter! 5 dips into the medium vat.
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- Beach combing, how textural.
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- The sunsets were stunning and the fish were biting – flathead and cocky salmon
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- More sunsets, they were always stunning, inspiring Indigo and Iron Rust dyeing combos.
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- Dinner al fresco at Steele’s island accommodation
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- Planes arrive as we work on after dinner on the first evening.
