Jun 19
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

I was staring at the pattern on the towels in the apartment we were using in NY, and realized there was a really appealing pattern of squares that would work well cut out. So I tried it.

Red Kate came with me to school this afternoon, and we made 4" shibori squares with the kids. I was so entranced with the idea, from Shibori Girl, that I sacrificed a yard of silk (and Kate donated another 1.5 yards) and made dozens of squares. The kids were amazing.

We used food grade dyes – easter egg dye, food coloring, and kool aid – so it wouldn’t matter when they got it on themselves. I brought pennies and big aluminum fake coins, big and little document clips and string. We demonstrated several different resists, using the document clips to hold the pennies in place, or tying the fabric over the coins, or making caterpillars, as well as simple folding and dipping. Then the kids went to town. I’m sorry I have no photos, but I was up to my elbows in kids and dye.

They produced all kinds of different patterns and effects, and insisted on showing Mrs Battey, and Red Kate AND me each thing they accomplished. A lot of it was quite impressive. Of course, there’s always one (or two) kids who just dip 27 pieces in the black, but most did pretty interesting stuff. Mrs Battey had fun too. I could see Red Kate having 3rd grade envy as she watched these kids experimenting.