Classes and Events
2025
Experience the magic of dyeing with fresh Japanese indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) leaves straight from the garden! While the world of natural dyeing can be quite complex, this method of dyeing is simple and accessible for crafters interested in learning a quick indigo application and gardeners hoping to grow Japanese indigo at home. Students will learn how to achieve a range of green-blue shades from fresh leaves on protein fibers, as well as other traditional methods of extracting color from indigo-bearing plants. We will discuss fabric preparation, the chemistry behind the aqua blues attained, and strategies to preserve these unique hues. We will experiment with various methods of application such as fresh leaf pounding (hapazome) and creating resist patterns with clamps and ties. Everyone will leave with 2 silk bandanas and a wool yarn sample.
$75 workshop registration
$10 materials cost paid day of
Ages 16+
Join textile artist Berkley Heath for an afternoon of indigo dyeing! She will be demonstrating dyeing in her indigo vat and participants will be able to dye small samples of cotton fabric, and have the opportunity to bring an item from home to dye (note that this material needs to be clean and natural fiber--cotton, linen, wool, etc). Bring an old cotton T-shirt and dye it blue with natural indigo!
Indigo is a dye found in many different species of plants that grow all over the world. Indigo is the only traditional true blue dye, and humans have been using it to dye fiber and cloth various shades of blue for thousands of years (the oldest indigo-dyed fragment is over 6,000 years old and found in Peru). Japanese indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) is the species best-suited to growing in our climate in New England, and Berkley grows hundreds of indigo plants each year right here in Claremont. Come learn more about this fascinating natural color!
Mordant Printing with Natural Dyes
September 27th and 28th, 10am-2pm
at Claremont Makerspace
Mordants are substances, generally metallic salts, that are used in combination with natural dyes to create lasting colors on cloth. Mordants can shift the tone and saturation of natural dyes such that, with the use of different mordant combinations, a wide range of colors can be created on a piece of cloth, and even from a single dye bath! In this class, we will create thickened mordant pastes to paint and print designs on cotton yardage. Inspired by traditional surface design techniques, we will make three dye vats with locally grown and foraged plants (madder, weld, and sumac) to create a wide range of shades and patterns on cloth. We will cover fabric preparation, making a printing surface, simple stamp-making, natural dye chemistry and history, as well as post dyeing fabric care. Students will create a color reference chart on cloth to use in future dyeing endeavors, as well as their own uniquely patterned pieces.
