I started water coloring koi about 4-5 years ago and really got into it. My initial method to make the background as smooth as possible and leave the fish crisp and bright was to apply rubber cement before starting the background, then filling in the fish. I use salt on the wet surface to do the bubbly “tideline” effect.

My first scarf that I did in October 2017 started with a rainbow ombre, because it’s what I do… and once that dried, I thought. Oh. Koi. This needs koi. So that’s what I did.

Step 2: put in the fish shapes and add color

I sketched in with temporary marker- google image is my friend- then traced with resist. Once that was dry, I added colors that echo the existing colors, plus some.

Step 3: ENJOY - Laura models my very first scarf that I’m wearing today, in fact!

I’ve made quite a few in this theme and they are all slightly different from each other, as it should be. There’s a primarily blue themed koi on chenille available* at Mind’s Eye Yarns, as of 1/25/2019.

*Recommend calling ahead to make sure it’s there if you are making a particular trip.