Make! Adire Style Cloth

In this Make! tutorial create your own adire textile inspired by the traditional techniques used by the Yoruba women in south-western Nigeria. What patterns will you make?
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4y
By
Horniman Museum and Gardens
an advertisement for make adre style clothing with scissors and flowers on the front, and in the back
Make! Adire Style Cloth
Make your own adire textile inspired by the traditional techniques used by the Yoruba women in south-western Nigeria. What patterns will you make? Adire textile is made by tying small portions of fabric tightly together to prevent them from absorbing dye. When untied, small circular marks in the original fabric colour are revealed.
a white bowl sitting on top of a wooden table
You will need
• A small piece of plain white or light coloured fabric. Cotton or natural fibres work best. • A bottle of blue food colouring • A bowl • Rubber bands or string • A lolly stick or spoon for stirring
a piece of white cloth sitting on top of a wooden floor next to a knife
Step 1.
Cut a small piece of fabric about 16 cm x 16 cm.
two pieces of white cloth and three different colored rubber bands on a wooden table top
Step 2.
Use rubber bands or string to tightly wrap small areas of the fabric in order to prevent the dye reaching these parts.
a white plate topped with a blue cloth flower
Step 4.
Remove the fabric from the bowl and squeeze out the excess food colouring. Carefully take off the rubber bands or string to see the pattern.
a piece of blue and white tissue paper with flowers on it, against a light blue background
Step 5.
Lay out your patterned fabric to dry.
an artistic piece of cloth with white flowers on red, blue and pink squares in the center
Step 6.
Adire cloth is dyed with indigo so it is blue but you could try the same technique with different food colourings.