Shibori

Shibori is one of the world’s richest textile traditions in the world. Commonly associated with Japan, it is also used in Africa, India and South America. Shibori is the Japanese term (from the word ‘to squeeze or wring’), for the dye-resist technique of binding, clamping or gathering the cloth so that the dye cannot reach certain parts. This results in that most powerful of combinations – a carefully structured design with the organic freedom of the unpredictable.

In recent years a resurgence of the art has brought out its full potential and author Janice Gunner’s book is aimed at quilters, embroiderers and textile artists who not only want to master the techniques of shibori but also find ways of using the fabric once created for a range of textile techniques including quilting and embroidery.

The book briefly covers the historical and cultural background before explaining clearly, with step-by-step instructions, how to make a wide range of stunning fabric. It covers: tied resist, stitched resist, wrapped resist, clamp resist, folded and pleated resist, heat set techniques, discharge dyeing techniques, immersion and other dyeing techniques. Illustrated throughout with new and old shibori examples, and many finished quilted and embroidered pieces that have incorporated shibori techniques, to show the full potential of the art.