Introduction to Indigo Dyeing

This will be an introduction to indigo dyeing. We'll cover some of the basic principles and practices, direct you to further resources, and finally, do some dyeing! Participants will be practicing fresh leaf dyeing, the most straightforward and immediate form of indigo dyeing. Fresh leaf dyeing gives a more turquoise / aqua color rather than the traditional blue jean color. A few indigo vats will also be available for demonstration and test strip dyeing with small cotton fabric swatches.

Each participant will get to dye a silk handkerchief (provided) via the fresh leaf method and walk away with the information to cultivate Japanese Indigo, perform fresh leaf dyeing, extract the pigment from the plant, and start their own indigo vat at home!