Fresh Leaf Indigo Dyeing : Create your own designs on cotton tea towels with Renee Johnson

This summer the studio's indigo garden got off to a great start and is overflowing with Japanese Indigo, a variety of Persicaria plant. Join Main Street Studio's resident fiber artist Renee Johnson for a relaxing morning harvesting the plant leaves and using their natural pigment to create beautiful designs on a set of 100% cotton tea towels. Maybe one to keep for yourself and one to give as a gift!

Renee will have prepared the cotton towels ahead of time by scouring the fabric and soaking them in a soy bath so that the indigo pigment settles more permanently into the cotton fibers. During the class you'll create your own unique designs by choosing from a large variety of stencils — garden and wildflower motifs, geometric patterns, traditional Japanese designs, and mandalas. You'll arrange your stencils on the fabric and then use the fresh indigo leaves to dye the fabric. Everyone's creations will be one of a kind!

This is a small class and is perfect for complete beginners as well as anyone who has tried indigo dyeing before and wants to come back to experiment with new designs and patterns. No experience necessary — just come ready to enjoy a creative morning!

Instructor: Renee Johnson
Date: Thursday, July 23
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Main Street Studio, 786 Charlton Rd., Charlton NY 12019

Workshop Costs:
Registration: $45 non-members / $40.50 members (use member promo code at checkout!)
Materials: $15 due at time of workshop

Total Cost: $60 non-members / $55.50 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 to see what she is working on!