This course is rich and full of useful information for the indigo dyer (beginner or experienced). Have you read indigo vat making instructions & felt overwhelmed or puzzled as to the why & how of the process? Does the science & chemistry of it all seem daunting? Have you tried dyeing with indigo & been disappointed with results or lightfastness or felt like you’re not doing it “right”? This workshop will aim to answer many basic & advanced questions about all things surrounding the indigo vat. In this class we will be making multiple types of organic vats including fructose, whole local fruit, henna, iron and dried leaf indigo vats (& learning the advantages & applications for each), how to roll with troubleshooting the maintenance of a vat, painting with indigo pigment, best practices for dyeing in a vat & making designs on cloth (including shibori & paste resist methods) as well as finishing & caring for natural indigo dyed textiles. I have some experiences I’m excited to share about working outside of formulas & making an indigo vat with a better understanding as opposed to just following a prescribed recipe.

Participants will also gain access to my collection of Shibori / Tie Dye Instructional Videos to further supplement your natural dye surface design skills.

This is a recording of a class taught from my outdoor natural dye studio. Demonstration and lessons are the bulk of class with a Q&A at the end. You will receive a materials list, and detailed informational documents. This workshop gains you access to the recording, so you can work at your own pace on your own time.