Xsilk Blog — indigo

ITAJIME SHIBORI Instruction INDIGO DYEING

ITAJIME SHIBORI Instruction INDIGO DYEING

Examples of patterns created with "Itajime" methods
Three different patterns created with Itajime.

This technique can be best understood if you imagine a combination of origami and dyeing.  Although this method creates geometric pattern, the pattern looks quite organic with soft edges and rich coloring. And once you get hang of it, you realize there are endless possibility in the variations of patterns.
  Itajime method can be...


Katazome Indigo Leather, perfect gift for Denim Heads.

Katazome Indigo Leather, perfect gift for Denim Heads.

Dyeing leather with indigo is a tricky business.  Leather and indigo don't always play nice.  It must also been an expensive project to undertake for indigo dyers in old Japan.  Katazome, is indigo pattern dyeing method developed in Japan.  To make the surface design on this wallet, first stencils were hand cut, then rice paste was applied to leather using the stencil.  Once the rice paste is dried, it acts like a dye resist.  Leather(with rice paste resist stenciled on) is dip dyed in indigo vat.  When rice paste is washed out, the parts once covered by the...