FORT GREENE — Designer Kalen Kaminski taught herself the Japanese shibori method of tie-dyeing by watching YouTube videos and Google.
Shibori dates back more than 12 centuries, and the textiles are traditionally dyed with indigo. Kaminski also uses botanical dyes made from turmeric, coffee, hibiscus, crushed beetles and squid ink.
She shared her expertise Thursday with a group of women in the backyard of Myrtle Avenue shop Jill Lindsey. The shop regularly hosts casual, creative hangouts, from taco parties to essential oils workshops.
Kaminski also shared with DNAinfo New York a step-by-step for making a shibori pattern.
STEP 1
Create an accordian-like folded rectangular strip by flipping your fabric over as you fold. You can use a T-shirt, dress, pillowcase or whatever you want.
STEP 2
Fold the end of your fabric strip to make the diagonal side of an equilateral triangle. Then continue to fold the triangle along the strip.
The first step and second step of shibori technique result in an accordian-folded triangle of fabric.
STEP 3
Place resists, such as wooden paint stirrers, on the triangle.
STEP 4
Clamp the resists.
Make sure the clamps are tight.
STEP 5
A vat of warm red dye made from hibiscus. Other dyes were made from coffee grounds, squid ink and cochineal, which is made from crushed beetles.
You can paint the dye on or dip it in a vat of ink. 
Paint, dip, or squirt your dyes onto the fabric until the exposed part is saturated, or how you like it.
STEP 6
Unfold and voilà! 
Check out your pattern by removing the resists, unfurling your piece and hanging it up to dry.
The finished product. 
One attendee created matching indigo-dyed pillowcases. 
Shop owner and designer Jill Lindsey, a Kansas native, likes her store to have a social life. She encourages neighbors to come in and have a coffee or a glass of wine.
"We do happy hour from 6 to 8 every day, wine and beer," she said. "The garden’s so magical in the evening."
On Saturdays, a neighbor cooks up Austin-style tacos in the backyard, $4 each or 3 for $10.
Lindsey often invites friends like Kaminski to give workshops in her shop at 370 Myrtle Ave. The topics range from essential oils to Italian wines. Some are free, she said, and most range from $25 to $75.
