Indigo Dyeing
Indigo Dyeing
The focus of this workshop is on learning the fundamentals of how Indigo Dye Vat is made, best practices, materials needed, and demonstrations of creative surface design through the Japanese technique of Itajime Shibori, a shaped-resist technique. Traditionally, in this ancient tie-die technique, the cloth is sandwiched between two pieces of wood, which are held in place with string or rubber bands.
Participants are encouraged to bring 2-3 items made of natural cellulose fibers (e.g. cotton, linen, or rayon) to dye or upcycle. You will be provided with sample fabrics to experiment with.
The following are supplied by the instructor in all Indigo Classes:
- Clamps, resists, rubber bands, gloves and other studio supplies
- Resource list for continuing indigo dyeing beyond the workshop!
About the Instructor
River Takada-Capel is a Durham-based textile artist and freelance teacher. She has a small-batch production company, RIVTAK, established in 2007, now selling hand-crafted products in 12 independently owned shops.
Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Carrboro, NC, River grew up with an appreciation for the constant change in nature and the beauty of functional art. She loves to work with kids and adults, empowering folks by sharing the creative and vocational powers of sewing and other textile skills. River is an arts and LGBTQ community advocate who turned her dream of creative and social practice into a passionate career. On most days, you’ll either find her designing, sewing, or screen printing inside her Golden Belt studio or you’ll find her outside, dyeing fabric.
When River is not working for her business, she is teaching fiber arts at community centers around the state. She has taught at The ArtsCenter, The Scrap Exchange, ArtSpace, The NC Museum of Art, Freeman’s Creative, NCSU Craft Center and many small private groups.
About the Location
This workshop meets in the Duke Arts Annex: get directions.