Inspired by DIY: Urban Outfitters Shibori Print

This post contains affiliate links.  I am alive....(in my Frankenstein voice). Thank you for stopping by and taking time out of your da...

This post contains affiliate links. 

I am alive....(in my Frankenstein voice). Thank you for stopping by and taking time out of your day to visit my site. I have been away taking care of business at home and with the kids so I have been offline for a bit. I plan to fill you in in the next coming months about some changes that are occurring.  In the meanwhile, I am back this week for the monthly Inspired by DIY challenge. This month the gals and I will be taking on Urban Outfitters. The piece I am creating is inspired by Urban Outfitters Shibori tapestry. 

How to create shibori print napkins using rit dye


Remember when I shared my outdoor spring moodboard with Wayfair? Well, I really wanted some Shibori napkins. Once I saw the Shirbori tapestry from Urban Outfitters, I decided that I needed to create some napkins using the Shibori print. I wish I had a nice farmhouse white wash table as my backdrop, but unfortunately all I have are two black tables. I think a farmhouse table with the elements above would look great against the Shibori inspired napkins. 

What exactly is Shibori? 

Shibori is a Japanese manual resist dyeing technique, which produces patterns on fabric. Indigo dye is usually used to create a stunning dark blue pattern. I used regular rit dye in navy to create the look I wanted. If you want a deeper blue and have to resort to using rit dye, I would advise you to let your pieces soak for a longer time.  For those of you looking to create the real deal, there is actually an indigo dyeing kit that would be your best bet to getting your piece to look close to the original Shibori type prints. 

Below, I created three different prints using three different techniques.

How to create shibori print napkins using rit dye and clothes pins

1. Clothes pin print - Fold your napkin length wise, then fold it in half and apply as many clothes pins as you want. Then soak it in your dye bath until it is the desired color you want. After soaking it in the dye bath, soak it in the cold water bath and wring it out. 

How to create shibori print napkins using rit dye and rubber bands

2. Triangle Accordion Fold - Fold your napkin length wise, then fold it in triangles. Once you are finished folding your napkin into a triangle accordion, wrap rubber bands onto the tips of the triangle. Then soak it in your dye bath until it is the desired color you want. After soaking it in the dye bath, soak it in the cold water bath and wring it out. 

*NOTE: My triangle fold did not come out the way it should, but for some reason it created a cool marble pattern that I am totally digging...thought I would share. 

How to create shibori circle print napkins using rit dye

3. Circle - Bunch up your small sections of your napkin and wrap it with a rubber band.  Create as many bunched up sections as you would like. Once you are done doing this,  soak it in your dye bath until it is the desired color you want. After soaking it in the dye bath, soak it in the cold water bath and wring it out. 

After you have created all the Shibori prints that your heart desires, make sure you dry your napkins. This DIY took me approximately 2 hours to complete from creating a pattern to drying them in the dryer. I plan to create more "faded" Shibori napkins in the future, but I hope I inspired you to want to create some of your own. Remember they may not come out perfect, but sometimes the most imperfect pieces are the memorable and cherished.  If you are looking for more inspiration, make sure you stop my co-hostess sites to get the details on their Inspired by DIY Urban Outfitters challenge. 


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9 comments

  1. I love these! I haven't dyed anything in years, but this is making me want to! So gorgeous!

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    1. thanks! This was really easy and breeze to do. I think they would look pretty in your home.

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  2. I've been seeing those indigo kits around and have been wanting to try this. I love the pattern the clothespins made. Might have to be my next project...

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    1. The actual indigo kits look super easy to use and are priced reasonably. I think you should try it. I would love to see how your patterns turned out.

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  3. I love Shibori so much--I'm going to try this out for my outdoor dining area. Your napkins look so cool--can't wait to try this out!

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  4. Yours turned out beautifully! I tried my hand at it and failed miserably.

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  5. oh my gosh i LOVE these so much, jess! beautiful!

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  6. Jess, these came out amazing, and you make it look so easy! I gotta give it a try!

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  7. This dying technique looks so great and your styling is perfection!!

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