Shibori Shabooyah! 4 Ways to DIY With Indigo Dye

As with many fashion fads, tie dye is back! Not the multi-colored tie dye your hippy dad likes to rock or the kind you might see at a Phish concert. We’re talking about indigo-dyed garments (traditionally called Shibori in Japan). This DIY is super easy, fun and the pattern possibilities are endless. Best of all, you can’t mess up. No matter what you do, your newly dyed item will have a look of its own. All you need is this Indigo Tie Dye Kit ($12) and a few white clothing items!


– Jacquard’s Indigo Tie Dye Kit


– pre-reduced indigo

– reducing agent (thiox + soda ash)

– gloves

– rubber bands

– 2 wood blocks

– 2 popsicle sticks

Instructions:

1. Fill a five gallon tub with four gallons of warm water. Pour the indigo dye into the water while stirring. Add the thiox and soda ash and continue stirring. Let the liquid settle and then stir in the opposite direction. Allow the mixture sit for one hour.

2. Prepare your items by folding and adding rubber bands (see techniques below).

3. Submerge your items in cool water and wring them out.

4. Remove the top layer of film from the vat of dye. Save the film — you will put it back in the vat after you finish dying if you want to save your dye to use again in the next few days.

5. One at a time, add your items to the dye, gently squeezing them while they are submerged allowing the dye to penetrate the fabric. At this point the color will be bright green.

6. Squeeze out any excess dye and set your garment aside for 20 minutes to oxidize.

7. Rinse your garment, remove the rubber bands and rinse again. Put your finished items in a washing machine with gentle detergent.

Find yourself a five gallon tub and fill it with four gallons of warm water. Slowly pour the Jacquard’s indigo dye into the water. Start stirring and gradually add the thiox followed by the soda ash. Give it a good whirl in one direction and then stir it in the opposite direction. When it’s thoroughly mixed, let it sit with the lid on for an hour.

While you’re waiting you can prepare your items. We dyed a tank top, a skirt, a napkin, a scarf and a tote bag. Each one was a different fabric and took the dye differently, yet they all turned out really well! There are tons of techniques to create patterns, but really it’s impossible to mess up. No matter what you do, your shirt or napkin or pillowcase will look amazing! Here are four techniques we used to dye our pieces.

How hot is that skirt? Here’s how we did it.

Accordion Fold

For this design make a diagonal accordion fold and then place rubber bands along the length of the folded skirt about two inches apart. Now, onto scarf prep!

We love how the bright white comes through in the scarf.

We used the same technique for the scarf except that we folded the scarf in half first to make it a little bit easier to handle. Since the fabric was silky, the folds weren’t perfect, but that’s okay! It created a really beautiful pattern. Who needs symmetry anyways. Now, onto the next technique.

Kapow!

Single Circle

Next up we folded a tote bag. To make a single splotch, cover a fist-worth of fabric with cling wrap and tightly wind a rubber band around the knob of fabric.

You probably recognize this design, as it is super popular with tie dye fashion.

Concentric Circles

Moving on to the tank top. We made concentric circles for this one. You can also use this technique to create multiple circles all over your garment. Grab a bit of fabric at a point and pull it up. Wrap it with a rubber band about an inch from the tip. Keep adding rubber bands moving down the fabric as you go. The further apart you place your rubber bands, the wider your circles will be.

That’s right — we got a little geometry up in here!

Triangles

Finally, we dyed a napkin with a triangular pattern. Fold your napkin in half lengthwise and then do that a second time. Now fold the corner on the diagonal creating a triangle. Fold that triangle over itself moving up the napkin until you reach the end. Cut two triangles out of cardboard. These should be the same size as the folded napkin. Place one on each side and add rubber bands to keep the cardboard and folds in place.

Now it’s time to dye!

Once your items are ready, saturate them in clean water. Wring them out and then they are ready to dye!

Open the lid on your dye and you will see a top layer of film. Remove the film setting it into a separate receptacle. You’ll actually want to save this if you plan on dying over multiple days.

Take your first item and submerge it in the dye. Gently knead it like a cat so that it soaks up the dye. Don’t let it sink to the bottom of the vat because there is sediment down there. You’ll notice that your item looks fluorescent green. That’s not indigo?! No, it’s not, but that’s okay. When the item is left out in the air, it will oxidize and turn blue. So cool!

Let your items sit for 20 minutes and then if you want to make them darker, you can dip them in the dye again.

Once you achieve the color you want, rinse your piece in cold water. Take the rubber bands off (it’s easiest to cut them, but don’t cut the fabric!) and keep rinsing. Then put your items in the washing machine with mild detergent. Otherwise you’ll get blue on your skin and look like Tobias from Arrested Development when he was trying out for the Blue Man Group.

When you are done, you can put the top layer of film that you saved back into the vat of dye. Stir it and then cover it with the lid. The dye will keep for a few days. When you are ready to dispose of the dye, we recommend pouring it in your toilet. This is the most environmentally safe way to get rid of dye.

Now, time to wear the rest of these indigo items! Thanks to our gorgeous designer Krystle for modeling :)

Even though the skirt and tank were different fabrics, they both took the dye beautifully.

Such a fun bag!

Love the combo of color blocks and indigo!

Emily in Paris season 4 was the buzziest season yet, and for good reason. Emily's in Rome, Camille was never pregnant, and Gabriel's hair went from très hot to tragique. In addition to the viral response to Gabriel's new hair, season 4 left me pretty sad because after four years of waiting for Emily and Gabriel to get together, they almost immediately break up — and actor Lucas Bravo is just as confused as we are.

Carole Bethuel/Netflix

“The ‘sexy chef’ was very much part of me in Season 1 and we grew apart season after season because of the choices he makes and because of the direction they make him take,” Lucas Bravo told IndieWire while promoting Mélanie Laurent’s Freedom. “As they made him kind of unaware of his surroundings, of the dynamic, always victimizing and always being completely lost in translation and oblivious to anything that is happening around him and being manipulated by everyone, it kind of became not fun for me to shoot or to see a character I love so much and brought me so much, being slowly turned into guacamole. I really grew apart from him.”

Honestly it makes me really sad that a character we all love so much is becoming unrecognizable. But at the same time, it makes me feel a little bit better, because we're not the only ones who feel like Gabriel has changed. And while Lucas has done what he can to bring those early-series aspects of Gabriel back, he says "there is only so much I can do in the limits of a script.”

Netflix

“I tried for seasons to bring nuances but we don’t have much liberty on set," he continues. “It makes me question if I want to be part of Season 5…because my contract ends at Season 4. I really want to see if Gabriel gets back to his fun, cheeky, playful, alive self. Because three seasons playing melancholic, sad, depressed, and lost is not fun anymore. It’s a comedy, everybody is having fun around me, everybody is jumping around, and I’m just slowly sinking into god knows what.”

Say what now?! If Lucas Bravo leaves Emily in Paris, I truly don't know what I'd do. Gabriel is my favorite character on the show! (Or at least, early Gabriel was.) Seeing him move from 30, flirty, and thriving to someone who's consistently in the middle of an existential crisis doesn't make sense within the world of the show. And even though Lucas thinks the show has a "lack of risk," he still loves everyone involved.

“I love the show. It started everything for me. I love the show and the people in it," he says. "With saying that, I feel like I am not being nice or grateful, but when you love something you want it to be…you want the best version of it. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been frustrated with the direction by character is taking. But we’ll see where it goes. The show is not over.”

Just like the show's iconic costumes are all about expression and fun, here's hoping Emily in Paris is able to bring some life back into our favorite chef. Because if not, it sounds like we could be nearing the end of the show's most popular would-they-won't-they relationship. Fix this Netflix, I beg you!

What do you think of Lucas Bravo's dilemma? Do you miss season 1 Gabriel? Let us know in the comments and check out the latest Emily in Paris season 5 news.

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie created reality TV gold when The Simple Life debuted in 2003. Their antics were outlandish, but we couldn't help repeating their iconic phrases like "That's hot" or "Sanasa" during random moments in our own lives.

It's no secret the two didn't really act that way, but their 'characters' left a huge mark on a generation of millennials. "I knew what I was doing but the whole world didn’t, so it was kind of frustrating to me to be perceived in that way because it’s not who I am at all," Paris told People.

Even though she may have felt judged, it seems that Paris Hilton realizes how many people actually loved The Simple Life because she and Nicole Richie are teaming up to film a reunion special that'll debut on Peacock as we speak! Here's everything we know so far!

When did speculations about 'The Simple Life' reboot begin?

NBCUniversal Media

Peacock first shared a video clip on Instagram that hinted something special involving Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie is coming in May. A nostalgic TV set with a black and white screen can be seen while our favorite duo's voices can be hearing saying, "Sanasa, Sanasa."

Peacock captioned the post, "New Era. Same Besties. Coming soon to Peacock," and fans could barely contain their excitement. Even celebs like Naomi Campbell and Katy Perry commented on these hot vibes.

Bravo

Then Paris Hilton took to her own Instagram to share more about what fans could expect. She said, "As some of you may know, we are doing a reunion special to celebrate 20 years of our show The Simple Life and it's been so much fun."

Actress Selma Blair shared how much she's looking forward to this by commenting that she's "living for this."

So are we!

What was 'The Simple Life' about?

The Simple Life/20th Century Fox

The Simple Life showed Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie as they basically traded their wealthy lifestyles for 'everyday' living. Cameras followed them from fast food jobs to dealing with getting out of sticky situations they'd supposedly never experienced. Needless to say, it was hilarious, iconic, and instant reality TV gold.

How long was 'The Simple Life' on air?

Peter Kramer/Getty Images

The Simple Life was on air from 2003 to 2007 with five successful seasons. It seemed like it wasn't going to be hit at first, but it defied expectations. By how much you ask?

According to reporting from The Cut, somewhere around 13 million viewers tuned in to watch Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's oddball take on daily life. That's a pretty huge deal if you ask us!

When will 'Paris & Nicole: The Encore' debut?

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Paris & Nicole: The Encore will premiere on Peacock December 12! The two were previously seen at a Sonic drive-thru yesterday so it can be assumed filming is underway (via People)!

Sporting partial Sonic uniforms, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie added accent pieces that match their signature flairs. Paris wore a pair of reflective sunglasses, silver sequin heels, and added a pink flip phone to front of her blue apron. Nicole wore gold hoops and a pair of slingback pumps alongside her hotdog mascot costume. That's hot (dog).

How does Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie feel about reuniting for a reunion special?

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Paris Hilton has expressed how much she loves to be sharing the screen with Nicole Richie again. "I'm so excited to be doing this with Nicole on Peacock. Nicole has been my best friend since we're 2 years old, every memory that I have is with her," (via E! News).

Nicole also posted a few throwback moments from The Simple Life on her Instagram, but the most notable one is the video mashup of them singing "Sanasa, Sanasa" over and over. "20 years ago, not only did we become television stars… we became song writers. Happy Anniversary Sill @parishilton#TheSimpleLife#sannnasaaaaa" she wrote in the caption.

What have Paris and Nicole said about their reunion special?

Peacock

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie sat down with W Magazine to let the world know the Paris & Nicole: The Encore show is on its way! Not only that, but fans can expect to see an Opera version of the show they fell in love with two decades ago. Paris said, "The idea of the opera was unexpected" while Nicole chimed in with, "What people need, even though they don't know it yet, is for 'Sanasa' to be an opera.'"

The two besties came up with the idea via a series of texts that started off as ideas between them. Nicole said everything "came up organically" for the two and we can only imagine the memories this brought up for them. OG influencer Paris even talked about how The Simple Life was an "important show in pop culture history" and we couldn't agree more!

Nicole truly wants people to enjoy themselves while watching Paris & Nicole: The Encore and "find the same joy" she had while filming it. According to Paris, she feels what they have is "magic" because "there's just so much history behind it."

It's not every day that you can get to have fun with your best friend while coming up with long-lasting memories that contribute to pop culture, but Paris and Nicole have always danced to the beat of their own drums. Now we'll get to see them in action again!

Watch The Trailer For 'Paris & Nicole: The Encore'

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- YouTube

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This post has been updated.

Friendsgiving season is coming folks! And if you have one on the books, but have no idea what to cook, we have you covered. From deliciously cheesy veggies to a healthy take on everyone's favorite spuds, we're rounding-up easy recipes to make that won't weigh heavy on your pocketbook. Take a look through to see the yummy ensembles you should be whipping up!

Brit + Co

Drop Biscuits

Because everyone needs a carb to soup all those juicy drippings on your plate. This 'The Final Table' winning recipe does the job.

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Smashed Brussel Sprouts

Not crazy about veggies? These greens will change your mind. Topped with cheese, chives, and a nice crisp topping, they're extra yummy (and keto-friendly!)

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Cacio e Pepe Chickpeas

Sure this one is a bit non-traditional, but your vegetarian friends will love it. Plus they make the perfect topping to nearly any dish (who needs croutons when you have these anyways?!).

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Roasted Broccoli

Puts some greens on your plate with this holy-grail recipe. Trust us: It's sooo easy!

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Polenta

Dust off the ole' Instant Pot will this delectable fall polenta. Filled with butternut squash and lots of parmesan you (and your besties!) will quickly fall in *love*.

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Roasted Sweet Potato

Just when you thought you knew how to roast sweet potatoes, this recipe came along. And boy are we taking notes!

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Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

Be the friend that brings the booze. This autumn-themed mulled wine drink will warm everyone's spirits.

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Fall Quinoa Salad

If you're designated salad duty, take a twist on it by packing it full-on quinia, pomegranate, and a tangy dressing. Yum!

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Cheesy Pasta Bake

When the temperatures drop, your friends will be extra thankful for this soul-warming, cheesy pasta.

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Spinach + Mushroom Gnocchi Casserole

No time? No worries! This freezer-friendly pasta bake complete with pillowy gnocchi, creamy mushrooms and spinach is super easy to create ahead of time, without taking away from any day-of deliciousness.

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Cheddar, Jalapeno, and Chive Biscuits

Upgrade your biscuits with "addicting" flavors of cheddar, chives, and jalapeños. Pro tip: Double the batch to ensure you have more than one for everyone!

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Keto Cheese Ball

Your hostess will thank you extra for showing up with an app to tide guests over until the main meal is served. Packed with yummy baked potato fixings, it's got an extra "kick" to make it comparable to store bought options. Plus it's keto-friendly... you can't go wrong with that!

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Cheesy Keto Asparagus

Keep the keto ideas coming, am I right?! Make this popular Pinterest vegetable dish loaded with garlic and extra cheese. Yes please!

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Yogurt Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Pack a 'lil extra protein into your mashed spuds (with the bonus of making them extra creamy!). Who knew yogurt would soon become your go-to secret ingredient?

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Pumpkin Spice Toffee

And let's not forget about the sweets! Make a batch of this pumpkin spice-flavored treat as a great take-home option for overstuffed guests! (Just be sure to save some extra for yourself!)

Follow us on Pinterest for more tasty Thanksgiving recipes!

This post has been updated.