Tomorrow I am dyeing a huge batch of socks and baby hats for the November 22nd Art in the Wright Place sale. I think, after that, I’m switching to ironing and sale prep. I’ll share pictures as I go along so you can see what will be there.
Before then, though, I have an Dip into Indigo Class on Saturday, November 14th! I’ve totally lightened up on the structure so it’s good for any level of experience. Woooooo!
So much is happening!
Indigo Dye Class at Paradigm Garden yesterday! Woohoo! We had a blast. Check out the different colors. The indigo dye turns from green to blue. So beautiful.
We had super fun. The students were very experimental and adventurous.
Check it out. Lovely stuff. Most of my pictures still have lots of green in them but the fabric was all blue and white by the time they headed home.
I have more classes coming up soon. The guys are Paradigm are so awesome, they’re letting me stay and dye some more.
I’m changing the classes up a bit. No longer will there be a separate 101 and 102 class but just a free for all kind of class.
I’ll supply some fabric but you can feel free to bring a shirt or something vaguely shirt sized or about a yard or two of fabric.
Check out that shocked and happy look on her face. She was very happy with everything she made.
She was not the only proud dyer that day.
They didn’t really happen at once but I’m going to post the pictures from them both at once. They were both awesome and fun and a blast and I loved them.
These are from yesterday.
It was a private lesson and she was super experimental. She totally got my whole idea that we’re just playing and you really can’t make any mistakes.
She came up with a whole new method that looks freaking awesome:
She also played with the old classics.
It was a great day.
But wait, there’s more:
I ran a class on the weekend which also rocked. Also chock full of playful people:
Everything is cool when you’re part of a team.
Here’s my team member:
Also, I’m just in a great mood because I dyed twenty four (24!!) napkins today and they were almost all PERFECT!!
Those that weren’t perfect, didn’t really suck. I also dyed several shirts. I’M ON FIRE!!!
Actually, I’ve realized that it’s September and summer won’t last forever. So I’m dyeing ALL THE THINGS!! CAPSLOCK!!
Here’s a few pictures:
These guys were all on the same pole. The one on the right is still oxidizing. Here they are later:
But, wait…there’s more:
This is one of the one’s that didn’t work. The really fully blue one with the tiny white spots, is not supposed to look like that. I still like it.
That’s not all of them. But I didn’t get all the pictures. I didn’t have to. I had all the fun!
You don’t have to sew to play with indigo at my Indigo 101 class. The next one in coming right up on Sunday September 13th from 1 – 4 at Paradigm Gardens. You can call them at 608/242-3800 to register. It’s $85 or $80 if you sign up with a friend.
I serge all of the fabric for my classes. It’s a bit time consuming but I realize that not everyone who wants to play with dye, wants to sew.
I give students six Fat Quarters each and we learn at least six patterns. Fat quarters are used in sewing quite a bit, they are basically a quarter of a yard of fabric. They are 18 X 22 inches in size. Awesome for quilting or making into little projects.
They also make fabulous and generous napkins or small but useful furoshiki wrapping clothes.
Furoshiki clothes a a whole ‘nother rabbit hole to fall into but also way fun to play with.
Yes, Dye Day with an exclamation point! Because the day was super fun. I’ve been prepping fabric for a little while now and was planning to dye them on Thursday (today) but I had a meeting and drank so much coffee. When I got home, dyeing the fabric RIGHT NOW was the only thing that made sense.
I did some random test fabrics just for fun and practice. They didn’t all work. The one on the left is a total mess. It’s still pretty though.
I also bought pretty much every white shirt made with natural fibers that were about my size at Goodwill the other day. Those were really fun to play with.
I’m especially pleased with this one. It looks super awesome.
I’m a little concerned with the placement of the blue here. I may have made some shiboobie instead of shibori. I think I’ll overdye this with another pattern. 
More tests just for fun. Plus a bonus background chicken.
And a set of a dozen napkins. There are only 11 because of the mess in the first picture. That’s ok. I love learning how to do things and I can always make more. In fact, I ordered two dozen more yesterday.
Last night was my Indigo Dye and Shibori workshop at Olbrich Gardens. It was so much fun!
Everyone was really nice and had a great time. I had everyone make four different patterns and then dip them in the indigo as the sun went down.
It was a lovely evening but it was not very conducive to taking pictures of beautiful finished pieces.
There were lots of beautiful finished pieces, but you’ll have to take my word for it. Because the sun set.
But I did get this shot. I’ve been promised pictures. If I get some, I’ll share them with you. Everything was really gorgeous. I’m always struck by the little temporary positive community that gets made in a class like this. I love it.
I have class times coming up at Paradigm Gardens. The next one is September 13th and is an Indigo 101 class.
The classes at Paradigm Gardens are going really well, they are super awesome to work with!
I have a Shibori Class coming up on the 16th of August at Paradigm that still has some room.
I won’t be offering an Indigo 101 Class there in August, though. It’s only because I’m teaching one at Olbrich Gardens. It’s a teeny bit cheaper, it’s a teeny bit shorter with a little less fabric available, and it’s a big bit more outside. It’ll be awesome and I hope you’ll sign up for it.
Shibori and Indigo Class Samples
Here’s their class description:
“Shibori and Indigo Dyeing Workshop
Join Jennifer Falkowski for a hands-on exploration of making patterns on fabric using Shibori methods of dyeing with a natural indigo vat. Shibori is a Japanese process of tying, folding, and clamping fabric to create beautiful patterns when dyed. You will learn four different patterns and make four large coordinating indigo-dyed cloth napkins to take home. No dyeing experience necessary. Plan to get messy – wear old clothes and shoes and bring one pair of rubber gloves and a plastic bag for carrying your work home. All other materials provided. Class meets outdoors (rain date August 25). Adults and youth (ages 12 and up w/ an adult); each attendee pays the registration fee. Limited space; register early.
Tuesday, August 18 (rain date August 25), 6-8:30 pm
Registration Deadline: August 11
Cost: $78 per person | Course Number: 21-15″
and their registration form
Just a quick post to show the process of over-dying the Arashi piece I made. I’m not crazy about the finished piece but it was worth it to learn more about the process. I’m a totally junky for learning. That may be one of the reasons I like Shibori so much. It’s always different and it would take many lifetimes to master it.
This is the part of being obsessive that I love. I spent my July 4th holiday wrapping fabric around poles and then dyeing it in indigo. I can’t get enough of that arashi. There’s so much variation within this technique. 
This is one that I wrapped, dyed, let dry on the pole, unwrapped, re-wrapped and over-dyed. Whew. I have to ask myself why. It’s ok and all but whatever. I don’t see the point in drying and then re-wrapping. I must be doin’ it rong.
I won’t walk you through each one.
Though I do love this skinny one. Fun to make, too.
I did throw in some itajime. That’s the kind where you cover part of the fabric with blocks. One cannot live by arashi alone.
Love this. Uneven pleats ftw!!
Also cool, if I may say so myself. I accordion triangle folded it and then wrapped it. Even fancier than it sounds
Hell yes. 1/2 a yard of cotton looking fine!
Another variation on willow pattern.
Ok. So I guess I kinda did walk you through each one
But I did spend my day with them and perhaps I got attached.
Come and dye with me on Sunday, July 12 from 1 – 4 at Paradigm Gardens!!! Call them to register at 608/241-3800. That’s a week away. Holy Cats Time! Slow down!