Stitched Shibori: Technique, innovation, pattern, design

by Jane Callender

Written by expert shibori teacher Jane Callender, this beautiful, practical book is packed with both traditional and inventive stitch-resist techniques, a complete dyeing guide and an inspirational gallery of Janes work. This book contains all the information a beginner will need to get started - including tips on dyeing in small spaces and a guide to all the necessary health and safety considerations - but is also packed with innovative techniques and inspiring designs that will appeal to the experienced textile artist.

The book is broken into three sections. The first shows you all the key stitch-resist techniques you need - from the basics right through to creating intricate designs and all are clearly explained with photography and illustrations. Learn how to create a range of different shibori styles, oversew, make circles and other shapes, use grids, double needles, stencils and caps, bind fabrics, work with machine stitch, use fabric buffers and incorporate appliqué.

The second section shows you how to use motifs to create learn how to create and position designs, including traditional arrangements such as Karamatsu and Tatewaku, create composite designs and get tips on how to plan your own patterns.

Finally, the book contains a complete guide to dyeing it contains recipes, tips and advice so that you can get the very best from every dye bath you make. Learn how to dye with both natural and synthetic indigo, in organic and synthetic vats. Also choose from a wide range of natural dyes, iron rust and dazzling Procion dyes, which can be used in combination or alone for amazing effects.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Art

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 24, 2017

Reviews

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shibori is a traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique that creates beautiful patterns on fabric by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, or clamping cloth before dyeing, usually with indigo. The bound areas resist the dye, leaving white patterns, with methods like itajime (clamping), kumo (spider), and arashi (pole-wrapping) producing unique effects. The unpredictability and integration of imperfections are key to the art, making each piece unique, and it's used on natural fibers like cotton and silk.
This book is a fantastic How To book. The following comes directly from her website, with lots of information.
Resists can be created by pulling up the threads of prepared hand stitched fabric. Any number of looks can be achieved and floral, organic, geometric patterns and textures are all within the realms of hand stitching. On a single layer of fabric hira-nui shibori can produce shibori ‘drawings’, designs or linear patterns and can be used to create sugi-nui stripes. Working on folded fabric with hishaki-nui stitching which drifts away from and then back to the fold, differing symmetrical shapes occur to form linear patterns. A more considered approach results in many variations of Hinode, the Sunrise pattern. Compositions can be created with ori-nui shibori which is also traditionally used to create the marvellous Tatewaku pattern of undulating lines.
ADVANCED STITCHED TECHNIQUES
Advanced stitched shibori techniques include a range of miru shibori shapes and the circle is used in various placements for Karamatsu, the Japanese larch pattern. The ori-nui technique is further developed to produce elliptical awase nui shibori and another development which brightens the resist is kamiate shibori. Both approaches can be used for the complex shippō-tsunagi pattern of linked circles. Any number of renditions can bring about exciting new motifs.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best printed resource I have found for teaching the art of stitched Shibori. Detailed instructions with step by step photos is relatively easy to follow and a must for anyone wanting to begin practicing this ancient technique. Recipes for an indigo vat is also very useful is you already have a good understanding of the process. Excellent book.

[Betsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing. There is history, chemistry(!), and very very detailed diagrams of how to do many different types of stitched shibori styles. There are matching photos of every final product and of many pre-dyed stitched ones. It is a feast for visual learners and fiber artists. I can’t think of a single way to improve it and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not going to write a long, detailed review. If you want to learn stitched shibori and need a book in English, this is the book to get. The author makes an exhaustive discussion of different ways to pattern fabric, stitch sizes and styles, shapes, methods of folding, using various resists, and has a bunch of instructions for different kinds of dyes.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book - lots of great techniques

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a fantastic book, filled with the specifics of producing quality results in working the techniques of stitched shibori. I’ve just returned home from one of her workshops where she (Callender) references her book (of course). It was intense but lots of fun. The book and workshop were very helpful and informative. High, high rating on the book.

And (of course again) this is a reference book, so I didn’t read it through.