Last month I went to an indigo dyeing workshop in Himeji with some friends. We had so much fun! The teacher there showed us how people have been dyeing with indigo since the Heian era, which ended in 1185. Each of us dyed two cotton scarves. I made one with a tie-dye technique, which resulted in beautiful diamonds because of the weave of the fabric, and one with a fish pattern, which I sewed into the cloth before dyeing. Sadly the fish pattern didn’t turn out as bold as I’d have liked, but you can still see the fish if you look for them!
Nice! A group of us did Indigo Shibori tie-dye with @AIMR a couple summers ago, she was an awesome instructor. None of mine turned out as dark as yours though, I must have less than half your patience, d’oh!
I’m so glad you got to do so many neat, new, and fun things before you moved back from Japan. Hopefully you can find more fun things to explore the next time you go back for a visit!
Thanks! I really tried hard to get as much as I could out of my last year in Japan. It’s gonna be tough adjusting to life back in the states again, but I think once I get my stash back and start really crafting again, that’ll help ground me more!
Thanks! Sadly I think this is the last of them, since after fifteen years in Japan I am now back in the states. I hope to still have crafty adventures though!!
Wonderful