The dyeing part of the woven shibori process is so exciting. Look at the drab mess of tied up scarves after they come out of the final dyepot and then the unravelling in the second photo.

These particular scarves have three different dye processes on them combined with woven shibori. The first was warp painting of the tencel warp with a colourful scheme. Then dyeing the silk weft before tying with Landscape dyes. Followed by the last dye on the tied shibori which was a very dark indigo style blue and violet. The way I’m building up colour in my work lately reminds me of painting. This is the only way to get a depth of richness in colour work. In weaving the warp becomes the underpainting and can be painted in such a way that it accepts other colours on top of it, either with further dye processes or with the weft colour and/or how it is woven.

I have a lot of dyeing on the go at the moment and it takes days. But I think doing your own dyeing is so rewarding that it’s worth it. Being in Australia and having a lack of colourful yarns to choose from is also probably an advantage of sorts. We all just have to dye it ourselves.