Bamboo Pattern

[tiedyejudy]

Hi, all.  Anyone out there ever do this pattern?

I have a customer asking about it, and I'm assuming I would just do a vertical accordion fold then wrap, but I thought I would check first to see if anyone had any other thoughts?
Thanks!
Judy

[2D4]

Hi Judy,

I play with designs like this and yes I would do it as a vertical fold.
But the one issue to keep in mind while wrapping is an irregular but even trapping
of the white areas so the shirt comes out with a balanced dyed look.
I found if I wrapped too tight I'd trap areas too big and in the wrong part
of the shirt which led to "do overs"!

Jo

[Jaja]

I think this could be achieved by pole-wrap shibori with vertical pleats. (More work but also more control over the pattern)
To me it seems similiar to tesuji shibori.

[fiberartist219]

I've seen some similar styles around here and wondered that myself. I've done numerous vertical ties, but never tried it with pole wrapping. My ties never show the horizontal lines like that. I guess I just don't know how to tie tight enough, or I just need to pre-soak in plain water first. Do post pics of your results if you get the chance!

[tiedyejudy]

I get the vertical lines when I do 'medallions' as long as I insert a small bamboo skewer in the center and wrap with sinew.  I think the same principle will apply on shirts, and plan to do some experimenting this weekend.  I will definitely update you with pix and a description of what I do, 'kay?

[tiedyejudy]

Okay, here is my first experiment:


I did an accordion fold from side to side (vertical), then tied with sinew.

Then I placed the tied tank in a bin, poured over the dye, then an hour later added the soda ash solution for about another hour.  It's a good start, I think, but I plan to do some other experiments:  tying tighter, maybe making the folds smaller and leaving them side-by side when I tie instead of letting them roll over each other.  Any other thoughts?

[pburch]

I like yours better than the mass-produced version. More color.

-Paula

[Jaja]

Pole wrapping with compression will give more distinct cross-section whites. Use thickened dye and direct application.
As a "pole" for thiss effect broom handle will do good job. Insert pole into T-shirt and secure it on both sides with rubber bands, pull both ends apart to keep folds straight, wrap sinew around it in approx. 1/3 inch distance. Compress ends together, dye it.

[fiberartist219]

Wow Judy. You're definitely on the right track!

[tiedyejudy]

Here's my latest effort:

These shirts are really thin, so they are easy to accordion fold when damp.  I used sinew to wrap.
Jaja, I tried to figure out how to use a pole for this, but it just wasn't working... maybe when I have more time, I'll play with it some more - stay tuned!
Judy

[Jaja]

I've figured out that I did some experiements, with similiar patterning.

This was done on pole but with discharge.
(silk)

(twisted after pole wrapping)

this was pole wrapped then dyes were applied


This was just accordeon folded and LWId (close to your technique)


All it has something in common. Nothing is exactly like the original pic. How closely do you want to match it?

Have you used thickened dye for this project?

[tiedyejudy]

Nice work, Jaja!  I know I've seen some of them in previous posts, but always like to see your work!  No, I didn't use thickened dye for this, because I actually wanted more color than the sample picture I posted at the beginning of this thread.  I would still like to try a pole wrap method, but think I might have to destroy one of my large buckets to do it.  I have an idea about cutting a 'slice' of bucket to wrap the shirt around, then I won't have to use so much sinew to tie with...   Meanwhile, I have more shirts 'batching' with a slightly different tie design, so I'll see how they come out later today.

[fiberartist219]

I'm drooling! Judy and Jaja, I love both of your work! I am truly inspired.

How do you get the string to stay tight if it is one big long piece of string that is wrapped around several times? I have a hard time keeping things like that from getting out of control.

Also, Jaja, how big is the pole that you used? I've never done pole wrapping before, but now that I see your work side by side with Judy's, I can tell a slight difference with what the pole does for it. I enjoy seeing both methods, but now I want to try it for myself. Is it just a plastic pipe?

I'm also enjoying the use of neutral colors.

[tiedyejudy]

How do you get the string to stay tight if it is one big long piece of string that is wrapped around several times? I have a hard time keeping things like that from getting out of control.

I learned this method of tying from Michael Fowler's DVD which, unfortunately, is no longer available.  I start by tying the end of the sinew or string at one end of my folded garment (which was dampened before folding).  I unwind a length of sinew from the spool, stretch it the length of the garment and bring it under, then back to the other end where I wrap over the garment, use my left index finger to anchor it while bringing the sinew down, under and back again. I tighten the wrap each time I finish the circuit, but not so much that it pulls the fabric over itself.  I'm trying to maintain the 'accordion' fold as much as I can to be sure I will be able to get good saturation with the dye. I think the secret here is to just keep trying it... my tying has improved since I started doing it this way. 
Judy

[Jaja]

Oh, Judy, I haven't  done anything on pole recently, I can't show something newly hot...that's why I'm recycling old photos.

My "poles" are different. Biggest one is 22cm in diameter (8.6 inch) and comes from drainage leftovers.
Others have smaller diameter - it fits easily in between indexfinger+thumb of both hands together.
Two came from drainage stuff (thinner, gray ones) and the last one was originally used for selling PVC foil-pipe.
Biggest pole is quite heavy - maybe 10kg. So it is not easy to manipulate it. I wrap it while it is standing on one end and I make it moving with motion like "garbage can". I wrap it from top to bottom, holding bobbin with right hand, moving pole with left hand only. If I need to stop -in-the-middle, I secure it there with big rubber band.
If you want to compress it on pole, you must do it section by section, otherwise you cannot move it later.
Great way to start with it is to do some very small project for fun. Grab some piece of plastic cylinder that you can find in your home, (e.g. part of container from grocery store, piece of garden hose, etc).
I started my first on the biggest pole and it was NOT good place to start!
Try to do it with compression and without twist, with compression and with twist and any of previous ones and different spacing of thread wraps.