Tints, Shades and Textures: an Intro to Dyeing Fabric

Tints, Shades and Textures: an Intro to Dyeing Fabric

Presented by Steve Anderson & Mike Stephenson

TYPE OF CLASS:   No Sew -- Dyeing Techniques

SKILL LEVEL:  All levels---wear black or clothes that you don't mind getting dye on

CLASS SIZE:  Class Size - 15

TIMES OFFERED:  Offered Twice

CLASS LENGTH: Half Day  

NO EXTRA KITS AVAILABLE---Technique Class!  

Before taking this class, please watch the below videos to be familiar with basics.  The class will build on these basics!  

WFGKC - Dyeing for Color with Ron Bohart

Gill Bloom - My Kites are NOT Painted

YouTube....The Art of Japanese Tie Dyeing  (Shibori)

YouTube...Shibori Tie Dye Techniques

NO SEWING CLASS ---PRESENTED TWICE!  

CLASS PRICE-- Estimated cost (final cost TBD):

Student Class cost for Dye:  $20

Fabric / Materials (per yard): $12.  Minimum 2 yards

The estimated cost for the class (depending on the number of yards) is as follows:

Overview

The world is not monochrome.  Everywhere you look, there is variation.  This class is an exploration of how to dye fabric to create variations in the fabric we use for kite making.

Fabric manufacturers seek to create uniform (and usually highly saturated) hues of fabric.  This is like paint for artists – each tube is a single color.  Yet artists can create an infinite number of colors, tints and shades starting with just three tubes of primary colors, plus white and black.  When you go to the hardware store, all the cans of paint are a single color - white.  Yet consumers can choose from an incredible range of colors and textures by simply picking a color swatch from the wall of hundreds of options, and then the hardware store (starting with white paint) can create an exact match.

This class is about doing the same thing for your kite making.  We will not cover mixing dye colors in this class, but you will learn how to use white ripstop and dye packets to create different colors and textures for your kite making.  

I will focus on two ways to create color textures in the fabrics – simple tie dyeing, and various Japanese Shibori tie-dyeing techniques to create different patterns and effects in the resulting fabric panels.

The first part of the class covers how to prepare fabric to achieve different effects once it’s dyed.  This will include simple tie-dye techniques as well as examples of various Shibori tying and binding techniques to create patterns in the fabric.  Participants in the class will then prepare fabric for dyeing using the different techniques.  Once the fabric is prepared for dyeing, we will dye the fabric.  After the fabric is dyed, the fabric will be rinsed, ironed, and hung up to dry.

Each half day session will focus on three colors from the color wheel:

- Warm colors – Red, Orange, Yellow 

- Cool colors- Blue, Green, Purple

I usually find that I spend several hours preparing fabric for a single dye color.  Once the fabric is prepared, it takes another couple hours to dye, rinse, and iron the pieces.

Students should be able to come away from the classes with at least 2 yards of dyed fabric, either in one color/pattern or multiple, depending on how the student decides to divide up their material.

Time permitting, dyeing time may be extended after class on Saturday evening.  

Students wishing to use the fabric for a class on Sunday will need to attend the Saturday afternoon session.

Advance Preparation / Ordering

Prior to attending the workshop, attendees must order the amount of fabric they wish to dye for their class section.  The minimum is two yards, and the maximum is six yards per class.  Students will be permitted to dye two yards of fabric until all students have gotten the first two yards done, at which point additional fabric can be dyed (time permitting).  The deadline for fabric quantity is one month before the workshop so that fabric can be ordered and (ideally) cut ahead of time.  In addition, please indicate color choice(s) ahead of time so that sufficient dye can be purchased for the class.  If no choice is provided, I will select a color combination for you, so it is highly recommended that attendees provide a color selection to get what they want.

Students are encouraged to wear black clothes or only clothes they don't mind getting dye on.