Name: Indigo Dyeing Workshop
Start: 2026-03-14T11:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-03-14T14:00:00-07:00
Location: 1401 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA, United States, Washington 98225

Culture and the environment are the two main topics I address in my textile art. I have been working in textiles for more than forty years as a maker and later as a textile historian. My background in textile history and museum anthropology allows me to bring a deep cultural engagement to everything I produce. I don’t just dye fabric in an indigo blue dyepot, I look in the dyepot and see world history, science, fashion, medicine, ritual and your latest pair of jeans! It’s an entire world to explore and share.
This workshop will delve into the culture and history of indigo around the world. Various techniques of indigo production, from creating a vat to producing folded, wrapped, stitched and scrunched pieces will be covered, as well as the process of preparing, dyeing and finishing the dyed pieces.
Materials needed:*
1. Students will be using various techniques to dye 3 pieces of 1' x 1' fabric in either cotton, linen, wool, or silk. We will have packs of the 3 cotton fabric pieces available for purchase. If you will be purchasing fabric, please arrive early. Alternatively, you can bring your own other fabrics such as linen, wool or silk, but they need to be pre-washed before class and no more than 1' x 1' size. This is a very important step.
2. Students may also bring or purchase an undyed skein of wool, linen, silk, or cotton yarn to dye along with the fabric. Please bring skeins 2 oz or smaller.
3. It would also be helpful to bring an apron or old shirt to keep your clothes clean :) We will have gloves for you to use.
Class date and time: March 14th from 11:00am-2:00 pm (you may want to bring a small lunch or snack)
Cost: $100
Minimum dyers: 5**
Maximum dyers: 10
* you will receive 10% off any materials purchased for this class.
** if we do not reach minimal enrollment, the class will be canceled and offered another time. If this is the case, we will let you know one week prior to the class date.