Barbara's handmade crafts and found vintage treasures are
now for sale at etsy.com - Collingbrook Designs & Vintage
Shibori Silk Scarves:
Stock remaining is for sale at Collingbrook Designs & Vintage on
Etsy.com
1 each small in: Autumn, Jade, Mulberry, Storm Clouds
1 each medium in: Amethyst, Copper, Mulberry, Spring Greens,
Twilight Dark
1 long in: Autumn
[See link below for "25 Ways to Wear a Scarf"]
Shibori -
a Japanese word that loosely means "tie-dyed". I also use the
Arashi technique, which involves wrapping the silk fabric around a
"pole" (wine bottle or cylindrical pipe) and tying a string around &
around to create the areas of "resist" (where the dye does not go).
See slideshow at right ->
A Colourful Discovery
Browsing around the downtown public market at Christmas time, a
colourful display caught me eye! Swathes of colourful pleated
scarves stopped my wandering! Expressing wonderment &
curiosity, I asked the maker all about how they were made, etc.
Well, of course, he didn't give away all his secrets, but I got the
general idea. It sounded quite complicated. Having just finished 3
years of heavy research & creating two 100-page family history books, I was looking for a new craft possibility,
something to get me off the computer. . .
A Fortunate Opportunity
More browsing, this time through classes offered at our local museum - a class to learn how to make Shibori silk
scarves! Hooray! Yes, sign me up! So I went; I learned; and went crazy - making several more on my own!
What's Great about Making Shibori Silk Scarves?
Working with silk: a lightweight natural fiber; accepts colour dye permanently
Mixing of colours: allows for infinite variety; each scarf result is unique; does not require any precision work
Adding beads: fun choosing the sparkly colours; love adding that little bit of glamour to the scarf & outfit
What's Great about Wearing Shibori Silk Scarves?
Knowing that the natural fiber is renewable & sustainable
Enjoying the lightweight warmth against one's skin
Choosing which way you'll drape & secure the scarf around your neck & shoulders
Setting the tone of your outfit with either the soft pastels or the bright bolds
Shibori Silk Scarves by Collingbrook Designs
Three sizes start out flat: small 60"x11", medium 80"x22", long 100"x22". The finished pleated lengths become shorter.
The colours I choose are inspired by nature to go with the latest fashion trends.
I call the Arashi Shibori process - slow-crafting: first, I cut out the fabric from the bolt and hem the edges; next, wrap
the fabric onto a bottle (or larger tube) with string; and then apply the colours. Now, wait 2-3 days for the dyes to
set, then thoroughly rinse out the excess dye. All the while, wondering: how are the colours blending together? Will
they be too dark or light for the effect I want? Will I like the result? Will someone else like the result? Finally, wait
a couple more days till the fabric is dry then unravel the string from the scarf and view my result. Voila!
Fortunately, patience is one my character traits!