Introduction to Indigo Dye & Shibori May 18, 2024
May 18, 2025 10 am - 3 pm
Private residence in Milton, Delaware
~4 miles from downtown
Location disclosed after registration
Learn the science, art, and magic of Indigo in this one-day workshop! Indigo is an ancient dye pigment most known for creating stunning shades of blue. When overdyed with a yellow dye, it creates an array of breathtaking, vibrant greens. Indigo has a fascinating story historically, culturally, practically, and scientifically. We’ll jump into all of it so you can meet how cool this pigment is, and get your hands into a living vat that we create together.
Students will make a fructose indigo vat and explore Shibori to create interesting designs on their cloth. Shibori is a broad Japanese term for a technique utilizing twisting, folding, clamping, or stitching cloth before dyeing to create “resist” areas that produce undyed patterns/effects on the cloth. Students leave with cotton towels/napkins and plenty of knowledge to start a fructose vat at home. We will have a lecture on other types of Indigo vats, such as the fermentation vat and iron vat. Students will have notes for making these kinds of vats, but due to time, we will only be making a fructose vat together. I do have a fermentation vat already going, so everyone can see what that looks like.
We will take a lunch break around noon. There are restrooms on site, a garden, and chickens and cats to hang out with.
Learning Outcomes:
-What is indigo? How does it work?
-Fructose vat vs Fermentation vat vs Iron vat
-Materials/tools needed
-Lab safety 101
-Building a fructose vat
-Fiber prep: scouring
-Dyeing
-Boiling out/neutralizing/finishing
REQUIRED FOR CLASS:
-Notebook
-N-95 Mask
-Wear “play” condition clothing as Indigo will splash, spill, and stain
-Lunch, snacks
OPTIONAL:
-A pair of personal dish gloves designated for dyeing. There are gloves on site, though fit is not guaranteed.
-Sun protection
-Your own copy of The Art and Science of Natural Dyes by Catherine Ellis and Joy Boutrup
ACCESSIBILITY
The front yard and driveway are sandy. We have a steep ramp (no railing) and a short set of stairs at the entrance, plus a sliding door to the porch, which may be difficult for some to navigate. I am happy to help you assess accessibility; contact me.
May 18, 2025 10 am - 3 pm
Private residence in Milton, Delaware
~4 miles from downtown
Location disclosed after registration
Learn the science, art, and magic of Indigo in this one-day workshop! Indigo is an ancient dye pigment most known for creating stunning shades of blue. When overdyed with a yellow dye, it creates an array of breathtaking, vibrant greens. Indigo has a fascinating story historically, culturally, practically, and scientifically. We’ll jump into all of it so you can meet how cool this pigment is, and get your hands into a living vat that we create together.
Students will make a fructose indigo vat and explore Shibori to create interesting designs on their cloth. Shibori is a broad Japanese term for a technique utilizing twisting, folding, clamping, or stitching cloth before dyeing to create “resist” areas that produce undyed patterns/effects on the cloth. Students leave with cotton towels/napkins and plenty of knowledge to start a fructose vat at home. We will have a lecture on other types of Indigo vats, such as the fermentation vat and iron vat. Students will have notes for making these kinds of vats, but due to time, we will only be making a fructose vat together. I do have a fermentation vat already going, so everyone can see what that looks like.
We will take a lunch break around noon. There are restrooms on site, a garden, and chickens and cats to hang out with.
Learning Outcomes:
-What is indigo? How does it work?
-Fructose vat vs Fermentation vat vs Iron vat
-Materials/tools needed
-Lab safety 101
-Building a fructose vat
-Fiber prep: scouring
-Dyeing
-Boiling out/neutralizing/finishing
REQUIRED FOR CLASS:
-Notebook
-N-95 Mask
-Wear “play” condition clothing as Indigo will splash, spill, and stain
-Lunch, snacks
OPTIONAL:
-A pair of personal dish gloves designated for dyeing. There are gloves on site, though fit is not guaranteed.
-Sun protection
-Your own copy of The Art and Science of Natural Dyes by Catherine Ellis and Joy Boutrup
ACCESSIBILITY
The front yard and driveway are sandy. We have a steep ramp (no railing) and a short set of stairs at the entrance, plus a sliding door to the porch, which may be difficult for some to navigate. I am happy to help you assess accessibility; contact me.
May 18, 2025 10 am - 3 pm
Private residence in Milton, Delaware
~4 miles from downtown
Location disclosed after registration
Learn the science, art, and magic of Indigo in this one-day workshop! Indigo is an ancient dye pigment most known for creating stunning shades of blue. When overdyed with a yellow dye, it creates an array of breathtaking, vibrant greens. Indigo has a fascinating story historically, culturally, practically, and scientifically. We’ll jump into all of it so you can meet how cool this pigment is, and get your hands into a living vat that we create together.
Students will make a fructose indigo vat and explore Shibori to create interesting designs on their cloth. Shibori is a broad Japanese term for a technique utilizing twisting, folding, clamping, or stitching cloth before dyeing to create “resist” areas that produce undyed patterns/effects on the cloth. Students leave with cotton towels/napkins and plenty of knowledge to start a fructose vat at home. We will have a lecture on other types of Indigo vats, such as the fermentation vat and iron vat. Students will have notes for making these kinds of vats, but due to time, we will only be making a fructose vat together. I do have a fermentation vat already going, so everyone can see what that looks like.
We will take a lunch break around noon. There are restrooms on site, a garden, and chickens and cats to hang out with.
Learning Outcomes:
-What is indigo? How does it work?
-Fructose vat vs Fermentation vat vs Iron vat
-Materials/tools needed
-Lab safety 101
-Building a fructose vat
-Fiber prep: scouring
-Dyeing
-Boiling out/neutralizing/finishing
REQUIRED FOR CLASS:
-Notebook
-N-95 Mask
-Wear “play” condition clothing as Indigo will splash, spill, and stain
-Lunch, snacks
OPTIONAL:
-A pair of personal dish gloves designated for dyeing. There are gloves on site, though fit is not guaranteed.
-Sun protection
-Your own copy of The Art and Science of Natural Dyes by Catherine Ellis and Joy Boutrup
ACCESSIBILITY
The front yard and driveway are sandy. We have a steep ramp (no railing) and a short set of stairs at the entrance, plus a sliding door to the porch, which may be difficult for some to navigate. I am happy to help you assess accessibility; contact me.
Workshop planning requires investment, and late vacancies can be difficult to fill even while there is a waitlist. When a student cancels with a minimum 30-day notice before the start date of class, they will receive a full tuition refund minus a $35 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations in less than 30 days are eligible for an 80% tuition refund minus the $35 non-refundable deposit.
No-shows are not eligible for tuition refunds.