Fresh Leaf Indigo: Dyeing Techniques for Silk and Cotton with Renee Johnson

If you have ever been curious about dyeing with fresh leaf indigo, this is the workshop for you! This summer our studio garden is overflowing with Japanese Indigo — a variety of Persicaria plant — and we are putting it to beautiful use!

Join resident fiber artist Renee Johnson for an immersive three-hour morning workshop that covers everything you need to know about working with fresh leaf indigo. You'll start by harvesting leaves directly from the studio's indigo garden, then learn how to extract the plant's stunning blue-green pigment and apply it to fabric using a variety of creative techniques. Along the way you'll discover how differently silk and cotton respond to fresh leaf indigo — and how to work with each to get beautiful, unique results.

By the end of the morning you'll take home two stunning pieces you made yourself — a beautiful 8" x 54" silk scarf and a 28" x 28" cotton bandana — along with a thorough understanding of fresh leaf indigo as a natural dyeing resource that is surprisingly easy to grow and use.

This is a small class and a wonderful opportunity for anyone who wants a complete foundation in fresh leaf indigo dyeing. Whether you are new to natural dyeing or have some experience and want to deepen your knowledge, this workshop has something for everyone!

Instructor: Renee Johnson
Date: Saturday, August 8
Time: 9am – 12pm
Location: Main Street Studio, 786 Charlton Rd., Charlton NY 12019

Workshop Costs:
Registration: $65 non-members / $58.50 members (use member promo code at checkout!)
Materials: $20 due at time of workshop

Total Cost: $85 non-members / $78.50 members

About Renee Johnson:

Renee is constantly exploring ways to repurpose vintage and antique fabrics. While this has been her main focus for the past decade, she has been sewing and creating items from natural or repurposed materials for the majority of her life. Renee is always on the search for unique and beautiful textiles and notions to be used by crafters and makers alike. She also hand dyes fabrics and sashiko threads using natural materials like indigo and black walnut.

If you are interested in mending, sewing, or other traditional Japanese fabric and textile crafts, you can find her supplies online at reneejohnsonstudio.com or stop by the studio during Open Studio times to see what she is working on!