Natural Dyes Classes
at Atelier Mei Line
Tailored Workshops
Hands on learning
Tailored class around indigo dye and pattern creation
From two full days onward
Experience the indigo magic and understand the technique behind it by dyeing your own
creation with a reserve pattern and assembling an indigo vat from scratch.
Program
We will go over the different types of fibres and focus on cellulosics (linen, cotton and hemp) for our class. I will explain how to prepare the fabrics in order to get the best results.
I will describe the unique way in which indigo dyes fabric, and the ways different cultures around the world have used their own local indigo plant. Here in France, it all started with Pastel.
Next, we will go back millennia and travel all around the globe to explore how people used reserve technique to create patterns by preventing selected areas of the fabric to be in contact with the indigo.
We will discuss a couple of simple techniques, this will give you the opportunity to choose which one to try first. Of course, the many works in my own collection will assist you in your choice.
Hands on starts here: I will guide you, step-by-step, on how to place the reserve on a linen scarf.
You will also learn how to handle the fabric when dyeing in order to obtain the best results.
We will learn the proportions and materials used to create the fructose vat so that we can carefully start a new indigo vat. This will give us the opportunity to discuss other types of vats and also how to get a feel for maintain your own precious vat at home.
In parallel to your project, we will also create an indigo colour chart on a few fabric samples to map some of the infinite shade of blue one can create with indigo.
You will dye your scarf by dipping it into the large working vat and
experience the deepening of the colour as we repeatedly dip the fabric.
Once dyed and rinsed, you will remove the reserve and experience the pattern reveal, also know as: the magic moment, the revelation, hapiness!
Throughout the workshop we will also go over good practises for a lightfast and wash resistant colour.
Depending on the time available and your interests, we will than be able to explore dyeing other type of substrate, upcycling a garment for example
We can also try different types of reserve: with rice paste (katazome), with stiching (nuishibori), by tying the fabric around a pole (arashi shibori) or others, depending on your patience and motivation. I will guide you through the infinite choices that are on offer with this artform.
I will be happy to share my experience and look forward to watch you liberate your creative spirit!
