Indigo is one of the oldest known dyes known to man. For centuries it has dyed fibres and textiles blue and was the original natural dye used on denim until a synthetic formula was created.
Blue can only be created naturally from the leaves of Indigo and Woad plants. The leaves of the plants are either used fresh or dried to create the dye bath. As Indigo and Woad are not water soluble, with the help of a few additives, the molecules adhere to the fibre in the dye bath and then change colour once they are pulled out of the liquid and hit oxygen. It is during the oxidation that the indigo turns the fabric blue. It is magical to watch!

During our Indigo Dye Day you will not only learn about the indigo dye process but different Shibori techniques. Shibori is the Japanese art of creating resists, areas that remain white after dyeing the fabric.
This is your chance to bring your tired whites back to life with a new colour! Bring your old cotton linens or clothing to dip into the dye to create beautiful shades of blue. The more you dip, the darker the hue you will obtain.
$30 registration for the session.
Each item you bring is priced for dyeing according to its size – $1 to $10.
We will have t-shirts ($12-$15), pillow cases ($12), handkerchiefs ($5), Bandanas ($8), Large Cotton Shawls ($25) and silk scarves ($12 to $20) available for purchase.
This is an outdoor event.
The class is led by Jennifer Triemstra-Johnston who has been dyeing professionally for over 25 years and started working with natural dyes in 2006.

When: August 27th, 10am to 5pm
(2 session available 10am to 1pm and 1pm to 4pm)
Where: The tents at 345 Queen Street, Blyth (Pick a Posie Vintage)
Workshop Cost: $30
Materials Cost: $1 to $25 per item