An impetuous buy at a resale shop met with the indigo dye pot in a recent workshop with Doug Baulos. And it was Magically Delicious!
 |
| A Liz Claiborne linen shirt itajime shibori dyed in indigo. |
Retracing Nature: Folio, Book, Installation workshop
Over-dying in an indigo dye bath was not a scheduled activity in a recent book arts workshop [at Shakerag Workshops] called, "Retracing Nature: Folio, Book, Installation" with artist Doug Pierre Baulos. But at the urging of fellow workshop participants, Doug generously offered to show us a method for preparing an indigo dye vat with natural indigo plant material. And so the story of my "Porcupine Shirt" began...
 |
Preparing the indigo dye vat with Doug Baulos and
Brooke Cassady (right), workshop assistant.
|
Thinking I might use a garment as a pattern or basis for my installation piece in the workshop, I made a serendipitous trip to the local resale shop to see what I could find. There it was... a salmony-pinkish Liz Claiborne 100% linen shirt. $3. I had no idea what was about to happen.
 |
| Clamping the collar. |
With little time to prep for the freshly bloomed dye bath, I opted for the itajime shibori method—using clothespins to create the clamped resist. (It was quicker than stitching and gathering to create a restist.) Below is the shirt, folded and clamped with clothespins.
Kinda looks like a porcupine, don't ya think? Thus the name: Porcupine Shirt.
 |
The porcupine is ready for dyeing.
(Notice its shadow.) |
I waited to put my piece into the dye pot since it was larger than the pieces from other participants. Doug carefully lowered the shirt into the indigo dye pot to minimize the introduction of any air or bubbles into the dye bath.
 |
| Carefully lowering the shirt into the indigo dye. |
The removal was just as careful.
 |
| Removal from the dye pot. |
Here is the little indigo porcupine drying in the sun. We did dye the critter an additional time to strengthen the color.
 |
| Drying in the sun. |
After removing clothespins, the unfolding revealed this...
Thank you to Becky Edwards for taking the video.
Tah-da! Here it is. Like magic.
 |
| The unwrapped shirt. |
 |
| Drying on the line. |
Auditioning buttons
The original white buttons on the shirt were removed before dyeing the shirt. Even though they had the Liz Claiborne brand imprinted on them, it seemed that white buttons were not appropriate for this makeover.
 |
| Auditioning buttons. |
I chose to gradate the colors: a bright salmon button at the top, two iridescent red-violet ones for the center, and two indigo at the bottom.
 |
| Shibori dyed shirt with an assortment of colored buttons. |
 |
| Shibori dyed shirt back and sleeve detail. |
My new Porcupine Shirt satisfies the Make Nine 2021 "Upcycle/Repurpose/Mend" prompt.
 |
| Make Nine: June 2021 |
If you ever have an opportunity to take a workshop with Doug, know that Doug is up for an unscripted adventure or detour wherever inspiration may lead. So be prepared to Seize the Day—or seize the opportunity to throw something into the dye pot.
It's always magically delicious!
