Upcoming Workshops
Natural Dyeing 101
Weekend Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
July 7 - 8, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
This two day intensive introduces students to the world of beautiful, accessible, and sustainable botanical dyes. Students learn the basics of selecting and preparing fibers, extracting color from a variety of plant materials, and fixing natural dyes to fabric. We’ll discuss the history of natural dye use, and explore some contemporary applications of pattern. Students will leave with the substantial beginnings of a swatch library documenting a range of fibers, dyes, mordants, and modifiers. Bring along any materials you'd like to experiment with!
Fabric Marbling
After Workshop
Textile Arts Center, Manhattan
Tuesday July 10, 2018
6:30 - 9:30
Once one of our younger students described marbling as "magic fighting magic". That's pretty much how we feel about this magical technique. In this course students will learn the fundamentals of marbling, including how to select fabrics and prepare a marbling vat to create permanent prints. After getting familiar with traditional patterns, students can develop their own palette and style to create a suite of patterns.
Large Format Suminagashi
One-day Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
Saturday July 14, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
Suminagashi is the Japanese art of marbling by floating ink on the surface of water. In this one-day intensive students learn the basics of this centuries-old monoprint technique, including the tools and materials it requires and the ideology shaping suminagashi practice up to the present. Students will develop a suite of patterns on paper and fabric using the natural forces of wind, vibration, and chemical interaction. Small studies will be expanded upon in our large 4x4’ marbling vat, where students will have the opportunity to print yardage with their unique patterns! Materials will be provided by TAC, but students may bring along natural fiber fabrics to experiment with!
Indigo Dyeing
One-day Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Manhattan
Sunday July 15, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
Focusing on plant derived natural indigo, students in this intensive workshop will prepare two indigo vats for dyeing both protein and cellulose fibers. We’ll create an array of swatches and explore resist dyeing techniques reliant on the particular working qualities of indigo. Fabric will be provided, but feel free to bring along some light colored natural fabrics to experiment with!
Book Arts 101
Weekend Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
August 18 - 19, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
This course introduces students to bookbinding as a fluid and expressive art form that dovetails with fiber arts. Students learn the fundamental vocabulary and tools of bookbinding as we create five different book structures. Each book model will explore the opportunities to connect fiber and book arts with techniques including embroidery, needle weaving, natural dyeing, and resist dyeing.
Large Format Marbling
One-day Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
Saturday August 25, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
In this one day intensive, students will learn the basics of marbling on fabric, including how to prepare a marbling vat and the best pigments to use for permanent prints. We’ll discuss the history behind European marbling traditions, then get colorful creating marbled monoprints. Small studies will be expanded upon in our large 4x4’ marbling vat, where students will have the opportunity to print yardage with their unique patterns! Materials will be provided by TAC, but students may bring additional natural fiber fabrics if they wish.
Introduction to Natural Dyes
Weekend Intensive
Peters Valley School of Craft, Layton NJ
September 15 - 16, 2018
room and board available
Participants in this weekend intensive will be introduced to the world of beautiful, accessible, and sustainable botanical dyes. Learn the basics of selecting and preparing fibers, extracting color from a variety of plant materials, and fixing natural dyes to fabric. We’ll discuss the history of natural dye use, and explore some contemporary applications of pattern. You may bring along natural fiber materials you wish to experiment with in the dye pot. No previous experience is required.
Natural Dyeing 101
Weekend Intensive
Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn
September 29 - 30, 2018
11:00 - 5:00
This two day intensive introduces students to the world of beautiful, accessible, and sustainable botanical dyes. Students learn the basics of selecting and preparing fibers, extracting color from a variety of plant materials, and fixing natural dyes to fabric. We’ll discuss the history of natural dye use, and explore some contemporary applications of pattern. Students will leave with the substantial beginnings of a swatch library documenting a range of fibers, dyes, mordants, and modifiers. Bring along any materials you'd like to experiment with!
Registration for all Textile Arts Center classes can be found here.
Contact Natalie for information about private lessons for individuals or small groups.