WHO: Between 3 & 8 people. I’ve done larger groups, when that happens what we do is simplified a bit. Several people have ask their friends to join them to help celebrate a birthday or some other milestone, we all have a blast!
WHERE: In my backyard dye studio
WHEN: To be scheduled at a time that works for all. I have two versions of this class, a 2-3 hour and a 4-5 hour one (explained below)
WHAT: I’d be more than happy to work with you to design a class about dyeing that covers a technique you’d be interested in. Here are a couple of classes that work really well as an introduction to dyeing with Fiber Reactive Dyes, as well as an Indigo Vat dyeing one as well.
Pick your Palette, Dye a Silk Scarf
If you would love to learn a bit about how I dye my silk scarves, this is the class for you!
Choose your favorite of my 28 different scarf palettes and I’ll walk you through mixing the colors, choosing the pattern you’d like to dye, and then dyeing the scarf. You could also describe what kind of color palette you’d like on a scarf, and I’ll work with you to make it happen.
Either way, you’ll leave with a gorgeous one-of-a-kind silk scarf, as well as an understanding of how to use fiber reactive dyes on silk.
Fee: 3 hour class: $50 + $15 materials fee/student = $65
Colors of Spring
Colors of Summer
Colors of Fall
Colors of Winter
Primarily Primaries: Experimenting with Pattern and Fiber Reactive Dyes
Working with just 3 primary colors, we can explore the world of patterning and create a riot of color on cotton fabric using Fiber Reactive Dyes.
In this class, we’ll explore different ways to add pattern to cloth using different “physical resist” techniques. After folding, clamping and tying some white fabric, you’ll add one or more primary colors of fiber reactive dye to the fabric and let the magic happen.
You’ll leave with 6 fat quarters of fabric, some of it rinsed and some of it still needing to batch a bit, and an understanding of how fiber reactive dyes work.
Fee: 3 hour class: $50 + $15 materials fee/student = $65
Favorite Color Gradations – 3 hours:
You’ll learn how to dye with fiber reactive dyes by either picking your favorite color from my Candiotic Table of Elemental Color and dyeing a dark to light gradation of it, or you can pick 2 different colors and dye a gradation between them.
Either way, you’ll end up with 6 luscious fat quarters (or half yards if you prefer) of beautiful unique hues.
I’ll also show you how to make multi color fabrics, we’ll use the colors from everyone in the class to make 2 more fat quarters of fun, colorful fabric. This class will take 2.5-3 hours, and everyone goes home with containers of fabric mixed with dye that they wash out later.
Fee: 3 hour class: $50 + $15 materials fee*/student = $65
*You can decide to work with 8 half yards instead of quarter yards for $30 materials fee
Favorite Color Gradations Expanded with Color Theory – 5 hours:
If you can stay 2 more hours, we’ll take a short break (I’ll have some cool drinks and a snack ready for us), and then I’ll give you a lesson in Color Theory that ends with everyone assembling a color wheel from colored fabric and a template that I supply.
We can then rinse out the fabric at my studio so you can see your results, and you’ll go home with fabric that will just need a final run through your washing machine & dryer.
Fee: 4-5 hour class: $70 + $15 materials fee*/student = $75
*You can decide to work with 8 half yards instead of quarter yards for $30 materials fee
Introduction to Indigo: Experimenting with Pattern
Indigo is an ancient form of dyeing that is so much fun! There’s an almost magical process where white cloth is immersed into a vat of yellow liquid – when removed, it quickly turns from yellow, to green, to blue.
Of course, it’s not magic, just a bit of chemistry! In this class, we’ll explore different ways to add pattern to cloth using different “physical resist” techniques. After folding, clamping and tieing some white fabric, you’ll immerse it in an indigo vat and see how those manipulations create fun patterns like these:
You’ll leave with 8 fat quarters of patterned, indigo dyed fabric, and instructions on how easy it is to make your own indigo vat with pre-reduced indigo.
Fee: 3 hour class: $50 + $15 materials fee/student = $55
