Embrace the blues and get ready to dive into the exciting world of natural dyeing with indigo! We’ll spend our workshop learning about indigo dyeing and exploring shibori techniques to create patterns on cloth.

INSTRUCTOR: Fiber artist Laura Berkowitz Gilbert/Tocco Studio

HISTORY: We begin with a brief history of indigo and discuss the various indigo growing regions across the world. Laura will focus on Japan and share her experience meeting with seventh-generation indigo farmers, dyers and designers in Tokushima on the island of Shikoku.

USING AN INDIGO VAT: We will discuss plant-based indigo as a dye, how it differs from other natural dyes and synthetic indigo, and practically, how dyers get the indigo to adhere to the fiber. We explore why the fabric is green when it is pulled out of the vat and then slowly turns blue.

SHIBORI: We’ll learn the resist dye technique called shibori and how it works with indigo. Laura will show us several types of shibori bindings and how to maintain a healthy vat while dyeing. Then we will spend the remainder of the class dipping our prepped textiles into the vat multiple times to achieve rich color and pattern. Laura will provide finishing and care instructions to implement at home.