Aizome Studio | suzanne connors

Shibori: Cloth, Lineage & Indigo Discipline

A 5-Part Signature Mastery Series in Japanese Resist Dyeing

Step into a deeper study of shibori—where cloth becomes a record of touch, tension, and time.

This signature series is designed as a progressive exploration of Japanese resist dyeing, grounded in tradition and guided through hands-on practice. Working with natural indigo and a range of binding, folding, and stitched resist techniques, students will move from foundational skills to increasingly refined and complex applications.

Each workshop builds upon the last, offering a rare opportunity to develop both technical control and a more personal visual language in cloth.

The Series Experience

Over the course of five consecutive workshops, you will explore:

• The rhythm and discipline of working with natural indigo
• Foundational resist techniques including itajime, arashi, and bound resist
• Stitch resist methods (kumo and nui shibori) with a focus on precision and tension
• Pattern development through repetition, spacing, and design planning
• Layering, over-dyeing, and combining techniques for depth and complexity
• Creating resolved cloth—whether as samples, components, or finished pieces

1. Foundations: Cloth, Indigo & Control

(Day 1–2)
Set the tone. Build trust with the material.

• Introduction to indigo (vat basics, dipping rhythm, oxidation)
• Core resist techniques:
  • Itajime (shape & pressure)
  • Arashi (pole wrapping)
  • Basic binding (kumo intro)
• Cloth handling, tension, folding accuracy

2. Precision & Repetition: Pattern Language

(Day 3–4)
Move from “playing” to intentional design.

• Advanced itajime variations (grid logic, stacking, carved blocks)
• Refined arashi (angle, compression, pattern control)
• Repetition, spacing, and predicting results
• Introduction to working in series

Shift:
From exploration → control

3. Stitch Resist Intensive (Kumo / Nui Shibori)

(Day 5–6)
Slow down. This is where mastery begins.

• Kumo variations (spider forms, clustered binding)
• Nui shibori (stitched resist techniques)
• Tension, thread choice, and sculptural resist
• Planning designs before dyeing

Why here:
Hands need to be trained first. This is more meditative and technical—perfect midpoint.

4. Layering, Overdyeing & Complexity

(Day 7–8)
Now we start pushing boundaries.

• Multiple dips, resist layering
• Overdye techniques (indigo on previous work)
• Combining techniques in one cloth
• Creating depth and visual rhythm

Shift:
From single technique → composition

5. Mastery: Personal Language & Large Cloth

(Day 9–10)
Bring it all together.

• Designing a cohesive final piece (or small series)
• Working larger scale cloth
• Combining stitched + bound + folded techniques
• Critique, refinement, finishing

Final goal:
Each student leaves with work that feels intentional, personal, and elevated

This is not fast learning. It is immersive, tactile, and cumulative—a return to learning through the hands.

Structure & Registration

This series is designed as a complete five-part journey, with each workshop building on the previous session.

Students are welcome to:

• Enroll in the full series for a deeply immersive experience
• Register for individual workshops based on interest and availability

For those joining mid-series, guidance will be provided to help you integrate into the flow of the work.

Who This Is For

• Dedicated beginners ready to go beyond surface-level technique
• Returning students seeking refinement and deeper understanding
• Textile artists interested in slow process, material sensitivity, and Japanese textile traditions

No prior indigo experience is required for the opening workshop. Some familiarity with shibori is helpful for later sessions, though not required.

What Makes This Series Different

This is a heritage-based approach to shibori, emphasizing:

• Process over speed
• Observation over repetition
• Technique as a pathway to expression

Working in a small, focused studio environment, you’ll have the time, space, and support to truly understand what happens between thread, cloth, and dye.

A Note on Materials