Blue Mondays with Rebecca Zicarelli

Join Rebecca Zicarelli for an eight-week immersion into the fascinating world of indigo dyeing.  Classes are on Mondays starting June 4th and end July 23.  Each session runs from 10-2 at Valentine Farm. During each session, you will make a take-home project.  Sign up now for an Early Bird Discount of 50%! From now until May 24th, the fee for the 8-week course is $300.  Starting on May 25th, each session is $75.  Pick and choose the topics that meet your needs. Each class is limited to 12 participants.

Week 1: How to set an indigo vat using the indigo grown at Valentine Farm last summer.  Fold and dye a shibori to take home.  Scour fabric for use in the next class.

Week 2: Using the scoured fabric from the previous week, we'll apply mordants, tannins, and soy binders to fabric in preparation for the red workshop.

Week 3: Dye the prepared fabrics with red dyes - cochineal, madder root, and possibly fresh indigo roots.

Week 4 &5: Two weeks focusing on the different techniques to use with fresh indigo; stenciling, smoothies, pigment extractions, drying indigo, and extracting the red and yellow dyes.

Week 6: Yellows.  We will forage for goldenrod, extract the pigment, and dye prepared fabrics.

Week 7: Learn about making and using applied resists, rice paste, clay pastes, and/or wax.

Week 8: Learn how to get blacks and dark browns using tannins, irons, and soot.