The most challenging aspect of assembling these scarfs was sewing into the kimono silk. I discovered it is quite a dense silk and that my sewing machine was at first struggling with its tension. It took me a little while to adjust the tension and find the right needle which did not puncture the material and was able to glide through the silk. I am very happy with the end results even though these scarves too way longer to create than I had first anticipated. Guess that is so often the case with anything creative!
On the right are may dyed pieces drying. Below is fabric soaking in a dyepot of osage orange. This is a dried plant I bought over the net. I dont think we get this plant in Australia.
The picture below the osage orange dyepot is another piece of fabric that has been clamped also known as the Shibori Itijame technique. The clamps are placed in a way that creates resists in the fabric preventing dye from penetrating those areas which leaves gorgeous patterns as the end result. I have used this technique along with folding and tying in this range of scarves.
I will be teaching a natural dyeing workshop in February. See my website: www.studioamara.com.au
for further information.