Little Homeschool Blessings: Our Experience and Review of Doodle Crate: Shibori Cloth Dyeing

We've enjoyed Tinker Crate so much that we decided to order a few Doodle Crates too! The first box we received was Shibori Cloth Dyeing.

Let me give you some details, if you've never heard of Doodle Crates (We have a special referral link to Kiwi Crate, by clicking any of the Kiwi Crate company links below, you will be clicking that link. And right now, you'll received a $10 off bonus by using our links!!).

Doodle Crate is one of four types of crates that Kiwi Crate offers. Doodle Crates are art/craft kits that are designed for ages 9-14+. The kit contains the materials to create the project and a booklet with information and history about the technique, materials included in the kit, additional materials needed, how to do the technique with step by step directions.

There is generally one large project and several practice materials to try the art/craft out before working on the larger project.

The kits are available as a monthly subscription with options for purchasing one box at a time, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. They even have a shop where you can purchase boxes without a subscription.

The Shibori cloth dyeing kit comes with:

a squeeze bottle
blue dye packets
practice fabric
wooden panels
tote bag
rubber bands
gloves
information and direction booklet

To complete the project, you'll need water, a large plastic bowl, additional rubber bands, a large plastic zip bag, an apron or old clothes, and paper or a large bag to cover your work surface.

This kit was for Jo-Jo and she was so excited to see it arrive. As soon as she found the box, she sat down and wanted to get started. She read through the history of shibori dyeing and how to get the dye mixed.

I requested that Poppa help with the project.

There are two dyeing techniques to try out. One is Itajime. It is made by folding material into squares,

and placing it between two wooden squares.

The squares are secured with rubber bands.

The dye is mixed with water in the squeeze bottle.

The dye is then squeezed in the sides onto the material where it is visible. Then you put it into a zip bag and let it set and then rinsed out until the water runs clear. To set, the material should be washed and dried by itself.