Overdye Rainbow: Madder, Weld & Indigo

Madder, weld and indigo yield some of the most vibrant textile colors, and have been used as natural dyes for thousands of years! This one-day intensive workshop led by fiber artist Hannah Watson, will guide students on a tour of these storied plants through hands-on lessons in working with potent dyes and fiber preparation with mordants. Using the primary colors of red (madder), yellow (weld) and blue (indigo), students will dip and overdye to combine shades and access a rainbow of possibilities. 

We will use non-toxic mordants on cotton and silk fabric to explore the range of achievable colors. Once students understand the relationships between fabrics, mordants and dyes, Hannah will introduce resist techniques to add layers of pattern and create visual interest! Students will take home sample swatches in addition to a cotton bandana, silk scarf and yardage in colors and designs of their own making.