Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling great.

My name's Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling very happy about that, because I love teaching art, and because of today's subject matter.

We will be exploring dyeing, and, in fact, that's the title of our lesson: "Exploring Dyeing".

We're gonna be getting right into dyeing fabrics.

Have you ever had a go at this, I wonder? Have you ever worn clothes that have been tie-dyed? We are gonna be exploring all of this.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work "Textiles, the creative industries".

So if you are feeling ready, got some enthusiasm, got some interest and openness, we will begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is, "I can explore pattern through shibori techniques".

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them one at a time.

They are shibori, resist, pattern, and dye.

So what do these words mean? Shibori, this is a traditional Japanese method of folding, twisting, or binding fabric before dyeing.

Resist, when parts of the fabric resist dye due to being tightly folded or bound.

Pattern, a design that repeats.

And dye, coloured substances used to change the colour of materials like fabric.

So these are our keywords: shibori, resist, pattern, and dye.

Let's be on a lookout for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called "Exploring Dyeing", and it consists of two learning cycles.

They are: folding fabric to create patterns, and dyeing fabric with natural dyes.

Yes, we are gonna fold, and then we are gonna dye our fabric.

I hope you're feeling excited about that.

Let's begin with folding fabric to create patterns.

Shibori is a traditional Japanese resist dyeing technique developed over 1,300 years ago.

Artists fold, twist, or bind fabric before dyeing it.

This stops dye from reaching certain areas, and creates beautiful patterns.

Indigo is the most commonly used dye in shibori.

Pause the video and share with someone your impressions of this example of shibori-dyed fabric we can see on the screen.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

I think the pattern is beautiful.

I love the colour, the contrast with this indigo colour on the white.

It's really looking fantastic.

Shibori inspired many forms of tie-dye across the globe.

Although different cultures have their own styles and materials, the idea of resist dye to make a pattern is shared.

Pause the video and share with someone your impression of this tie-dye that we can see on the screen.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

There's something quite uplifting and energising about this pattern I feel.

Different cultures use textile resist dye techniques.

Bandhani from India.

These tiny dots are made by tightly tying small sections of fabric before dyeing.

This is often used for colourful scarves and saris.

And Adire from Nigeria.

Yoruba artists use stitch or wax resist techniques with indigo dye to create bold, symmetrical patterned cloths for clothing and ceremony.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What does resist mean in dyeing? Is it A, to let coloured dye spread evenly? B, to block the dye from reaching some areas? C, to dry the fabric dye quickly? Or D, to mix two dye colours together? Pause here while you choose which of these statements best describes what resist means in dyeing.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, resist means to block the dye from reaching some areas.

Artists and designers can use shibori and tie-dye techniques in art and also in fashion.

Do you have an item of clothing decorated with tie-dye? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks so much for sharing your ideas.

I'm not sure if I have anything now, but I definitely worn a lot of tie-dye in my time.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Tie-dye is a European technique.

Pause here while you decide if this statement is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now, I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

There are many dyeing techniques from around the world, including indigo in Japan, batik in Indonesia, and tie-dye in Africa and the U.

S.

Let's take a look at some artists who use shibori techniques in their work, and they include Hiroyuki Shindo who's famous for keeping the ancient art of indigo dyeing alive.

He works in a small village in Japan, growing his own indigo plants, and creating art that celebrates tradition.

And Jane Callender who uses shibori by applying intricate stitched resist techniques to fabric, creating highly detailed and symmetrical patterns that are often dyed with natural indigo in the tradition of Japanese textile art.

So these are just some of the artists using shibori techniques in their work.

Shibori uses folding, twisting, and tying fabric to resist dye and create patterns.

So these are some materials that would be needed for this technique.

Fabric, natural fibres like cotton or silk work really well.

Dye, often this could be indigo from plants.

And tools, you could use string, wood blocks, or poles.

Shibori also uses tying to block dye from certain areas.

Tying with string or elastic creates resist points, where the dye can't reach, forming a bold pattern.

Different tools like wood blocks or poles help shape the design in unique ways.

Shibori folding and tying techniques look like this.

Do you recognise any of these patterns? You might have seen them on clothes or cushions.

Pause the video and share with someone.

Have you seen any of these kinds of patterns before? And where? Thanks for sharing where you've seen these patterns.

Alex and Andeep are talking about shibori techniques.

Here's Alex, "The shibori tying techniques are the same as tie-dyeing techniques.

I think the difference is that shibori uses mainly blue indigo dyes." And Andeep, "There are many ways to fold the fabric.

Many of the patterns are traditional, but you can be intuitive and fold to create your own pattern." Oh, I love that idea.

You might follow these folding steps to achieve a circular pattern.

So starting off with this fold, and then folding the paper, so that you have a point.

Opening out your paper.

And then, when you have tied some string or elastic around certain parts of the paper, and then dipped it in dye, this is the result you'll achieve.

Here are some more folding patterns.

You might follow these folding steps to achieve a rectangular pattern.

So first of all, folding your paper lengthwise, and then folding it into very small segments, opening it out, so you've got lots and lots of small rectangles.

And this is the effect you will achieve.

And you might follow these folding steps to achieve a diamond-shaped pattern.

So folding the paper in half, then folding upwards to create a triangle, and then folding again and again until you've created this triangle, open it out, and this what the outcome could look like.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is an example of a shibori technique? Is it A, B, or C? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, this is a beautiful example of a shibori technique, and we can see that beautiful indigo dye that has been used.

And now, it's time for your first task.

I would like you to use paper to practise folding for a shibori design.

You may choose to follow these steps to guide you.

Use an A4 piece of white paper.

Try out all of the folding methods, so the circular, rectangular, and diamond folding methods.

Look at the different folding methods, and follow the visual instructions.

And experiment with making up your own folding designs.

I'm really looking forward to finding out if you tried that.

So pause here while you have a go at this task using paper to practise folding for a shibori design.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of using paper to practise folding for a shibori design? There are many possible outcomes, and you may have created and said something like this.

Here's Alex, "I want to use circular design so have practised with this technique.

I'll use elastic bands on my fabric later on to create resists, which will make more circles on my fabric design." And Aisha, "I've practised with all of them, and want to make up my own design, so I also have a folding design I have invented myself." Oh, wow! Love that Aisha, really going for it.

And now, we're onto our next learning cycle: dyeing fabrics with natural dyes.

Dyeing is the process of adding colour to fabric using pigments made from chemicals or natural sources.

The dye bonds with the fibres and changes the fabric colour.

Look at those dyes.

They are looking really enticing.

Natural dyes come from plants, for example, indigo, turmeric, onion skins, and are eco-friendly.

Synthetic dyes are made in labs, and offer a wider range of colours, but may not be sustainable.

Pause the video and share with someone.

Do you know what these foods and spices are? Thanks for sharing.

I think we have turmeric at the top there.

That beautiful red is the beetroot.

And then some red cabbage at the bottom.

Dyes are available as liquids ready to use, or powders mixed with water.

Once applied, the dye bonds with the fabric, and changes its original colour.

So there we can see the original fabric colour is white in the background, and there is the dye, the indigo colour.

In shibori, indigo dyes were used.

This type of dye was made by turning leaves from the Indigofera plant into powder, and then a liquid.

Indigo became a very precious material that was sought after by British colonial powers.

They manipulated Indian farmers to cultivate indigo instead of food crops, leading to hardship, and fueling the Indigo Rebellion in 1859.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following statements about natural dyes is not true? Is it A, natural dyes come from sources like plants, insects, and minerals? B, natural dyes always produce brighter colours than synthetic dyes? C, some natural dyes need extra chemicals to help them stick to fabric? Or D, using natural dyes can still have an environmental impact? Pause here while you decide which of these statements about natural dyes is not true.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Natural dyes always produce brighter colours than synthetic dyes.

This statement is not true.

Let's take a look at some artists who use natural dyeing techniques in their work.

They include Tjunkaya Tapaya uses natural dyes to colour her batik textiles, drawing from earthy tones found in her desert surroundings to connect to the land and her cultural heritage.

Aboubakar Fofana is an artist and textile designer who specialises in using natural indigo and traditional West African dyeing methods.

Lilly Wong used indigo in her moon series of Noren, which are traditional Japanese fabric dividers hung between rooms, on walls, in doorways, or in windows.

And Rob Jones and Rhyannan Hall both use indigo dyes for their shibori-inspired textiles.

We can see so many artists are using natural dyeing techniques in their work.

So inspiring.

There are different effects you can achieve with shibori.

Which do you prefer? Here's the effect created by tying.

And this is created by folding.

Pause the video and share with someone.

What's your preference? Thanks for sharing your preferences.

Dyeing your shibori sample can look like this.

Use powdered turmeric to create a natural dye.

Add four large tablespoons to a bowl, and mix with warm water to make your dye.

Add a little vinegar to help make the colour more vibrant.

You might choose a tying method to create your shibori sample.

So look at your paper design for inspiration.

Fold and tightly tie with elastic bands.

Wearing gloves, dip the paper into the turmeric dye.

Allow the sample to sit for five minutes.

Wearing gloves, very important as turmeric can stain, take the elastic bands off.

And then open your design.

Rinse with water and let it dry.

And appreciate it.

Wow, looks fantastic.

You might also choose a folding method to create your shibori sample.

So use your paper design for inspiration.

Fold the fabric in half, then fold it over itself in a concertina style until you end up with a rectangular shape.

Use some cardboard to place on each side of the fabric, and then fold and tightly tie with elastic bands.

And the cardboard will help to keep the shape of the folded fabric.

Wearing gloves, dip in the turmeric dye.

Allow the sample to sit for five minutes.

And then wearing gloves, take the elastic bands off.

And there we go.

Open your design, and let it dry, and appreciate.

What a great technique.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Shibori is a dyeing technique that involves a tying method only.

Pause here and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now, I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Shibori is a resist dyeing technique.

It can use a tying or folding method to resist the dye.

And now, it's time for your next task.

I would like you to, first of all, decide which shibori method would you like to use for your sample? Consider and discuss.

Do you want your shibori to be simple or detailed? Will you use lots of elastic bands to create extra shapes in your pattern? Do you want your design to have a geometric or circular appearance? So pause here while you have a go at this first part of your task.

Okay, it's great to be back with you.

So what did you decide about which shibori method you'd like to use for your sample? There are, of course, different outcomes, and you might have said something like this.

Here's Aisha, "I practised with a few folding techniques in task A to try to achieve different shape patterns for my shibori sample.

I think I will choose a rectangular folding technique as it is simple, with strong geometric shapes and lines." And now, for the next part of your task, I would like you to gather and prepare your materials for your shibori sample.

You will need: elastic bands or pegs, white or light-colored fabric, strong cardboard, a bowl, large metal spoon, and turmeric powder.

So pause here while you gather and prepare the materials you need for your shibori sample.

Okay, great to be back with you.

So you have gathered, you have prepared, you have everything you need for your shibori sample, and you might have gathered some turmeric to dye with, and a selection of materials to create a resist like pegs or elastic bands.

And perhaps you prepared a few pieces of white fabric.

You are all set to go.

Now, I'd like you to create your natural dye using turmeric.

Wear gloves and an apron, very important to protect our clothes and hands as turmeric can stain.

Use powdered turmeric to create a natural dye.

Add four large tablespoons to a bowl, and mix with warm water to make your dye.

Add a little vinegar to help make the colour more vibrant.

So pause here while you have a go at creating your own natural dye using turmeric.

Okay, so how did you get on creating your natural dye using turmeric? You might have added warm water to turmeric to create the dye, and added a few teaspoons of vinegar to intensify the colour of the dye.

Next, I'd like you to use either a folding or tying method to prepare the fabric for your shibori sample.

Remember, folding and tightly wrapping fabric with elastic bands can alter your design.

So pause here while you have a go at folding or tying to prepare your fabric for your shibori sample.

There are many possible outcomes, but you may have created something like this.

Here's Laura, "I tried to wrap the elastic bands around the fabric very tightly to prepare my work before dyeing.

I thought about the spacing between the bands too." Fantastic.

And now, it's time to dye your shibori sample with natural dyes.

Remember to wear gloves and protective clothing when using the dye.

Dip the fabric into the turmeric dye.

Allow your sample to sit for five minutes.

Wearing gloves, take the elastic bands off.

And allow the sample to air dry.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on dyeing your shibori sample with natural dyes? There are many possible outcomes, but you may have created something wonderful like this.

Here's Laura, "I really like the circular design.

Because I wrapped the band so tightly, it gave the pattern more contrast between the resist and the dye." And Aisha, "I realised that putting a rectangle piece of card on each side of the folded fabric like a sandwich really helped to create a rectangular-shaped resist." It's a great outcome there.

And I hope you're pleased with your outcomes.

In our lesson exploring dyeing, we've covered the following.

Dyeing is the process of applying colour to textiles fibres or materials using natural or synthetic dyes.

There are many dyeing traditions, including shibori in Japan, batik in Indonesia, and tie-dye in Africa and the U.

S.

By using natural dyes, you can achieve a range of colours.

You can use resist techniques to create patterns in the fabric.

Well done, everyone, for having a go at the shibori technique of dyeing in this lesson.

It was wonderful to explore this technique, to have a go at the folding, and then to actually have a go on your fabric using turmeric dye.

I hope you're pleased with what you've created, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.