FOLDED AND TIED PAINTED FABRIC

This technique is inspired by shibori in that it involves folded and tied fabric but, instead of dipping the fabric in a paint mix, I simply painted it with diluted paint. The trick is to use a good-quality and, ideally, heavy fabric such as this vintage linen. The lighter and thinner the fabric, the more paint the fabric absorbs, but I like to use a slightly thicker fabric so the paint does not spread so wildly. Do not make folds in regular stripes, as it’s the irregularity of the stripes at slight angles that gives the design its interest. I did this pillow in a blue-green mix, as I am inspired by the Japanese shibori of blue on white (see the Shibori Lampshade on pages 102–105), but I love the other combinations shown here too, where Primer Red has been used on fabrics dyed with my paint colors, such as Graphite with Antibes Green, and French Linen and Florence with Primer Red. This is an elegant and more restrained approach to tie-dyeing than the sunbursts of color of the swinging ’60s and psychedelic ’70s and would fit into any interior.

YOU WILL NEED

• Small project pots of Chalk Paint^® in Florence and Aubusson Blue

• Vintage linen

• Fine string, cut into approximately 8in (20cm) lengths

• Scissors

• Large flat brush

• Iron and ironing board

1Gather the fabric into the center from top to bottom until your thumb and finger meet in the middle. Don’t try to make the folds too even, but allow them to differ in height and size.

2Holding the gathered fabric with one hand, use the other hand to tie a length of string around the gather and knot it as tightly as you can.

3Gather the fabric and tie it again, with approximately 3-in (8-cm) gaps between each tie, until you reach the end. I made four ties in my piece of fabric.

4Use the flat brush to moisten the folds with some water—the fabric needs to be quite moist, but not fully saturated. The dryer areas will not absorb as much paint as the wet areas.

5Make a paint mix using the Florence and Aubusson Blue. Use the flat brush to brush the paint mix onto one side of the piece of fabric only. Use a light touch so that the paint doesn’t go too deeply into the folds. No extra water is necessary in the paint mix, as long as the paint can be painted on easily, because there is already water on the fabric.

6Allow the fabric to sit for approximately 5 minutes, then use the pair of scissors to cut the string ties.

7Carefully open out the piece of fabric to see the pattern and then leave to air-dry. Once dry, iron on a warm setting to set the color.

Note: For instructions on making up the pillow, visit www.anniesloan.com/techniques.