Indigo Dying

During this very ‘hand-on’ workshop, you will learn how to use an Indigo Vat to create a wonderful selection of mainly blue fabrics and threads, using ‘Shibori’, the Japanese way of stitching and folding fabrics, to create a range of different patterns.

The workshop will be run by Pam Keeling who has been creating a wide variety of textiles all her life and, with over 25 years teaching a variety of courses, her knowledge and experience in this subject is vast!

Pam will start the day with a brief introduction to Shibori and Indigo Dyeing, followed by the preparation of a Dye Vat. Pam will make one ‘communal’ vat for everyone to use, but if you would like to make your own Vat, Pam will provide Indigo Grains, Soda and Hydros at a cost of £4.00 per Vat.

While the Vat is ‘brewing’ for an hour or so, Pam will show you how to create a variety of different patterns in cotton or silk fabric using the Shibori technique.

The dipping and untying of the fabrics and threads will take place after lunch. It is not a long process, but for those who have never done it before, very exciting.

You will need to bring the following materials with you:
• Rubber gloves and apron
• A variety of fabrics to dye - natural fibres are best. Can be white or coloured and of any size, though smaller, half metre, pieces take less sewing and room in the dye vat.
• Threads to dye (for stitching) - anything - but again natural fibres work best.
• Strong thread (Gutterman Polyester Buttonhole Thread is most suitable) for stitching fabrics to create the patterns and a needle of a suitable size to take the thread.
• Fine string - for binding any of the following into fabrics to create patterns: (not all are essential)
• Scissors
• Plastic Bags to take wet fabric home.
• A 2 gallon bucket - preferably light coloured. - Only if you wish to make your own Vat.
• Face Mask - optional, unless known to have problems with fumes.

Click here to learn more about Pam Keeling