Color and weave is a weave structure that creates infinite design possibilities using a light and a dark color on a four harness loom. The pattern looks complex, but it is actually a plain weave structure, without the floating threads a twill weave would produce. Students will learn about this fascinating weave structure, and create one scarf or shawl to take home. Simple patterns can accommodate the beginning weaver, but the more complex variations will bring something new to those who are more experienced.

Students will learn to use natural dyestuffs that have been used historically around the world. The unique properties of cochineal, madder, logwood, alkanet, brazilwood, cutch and osage orange will be learned, and students will dye larger quantities with each material. In addition, students will learn to prepare an indigo vat, and will learn techniques for dyeing with indigo. Mordanting, safety procedures, and record keeping will be covered. Each student may bring up to three pounds of their own wool yarn or fiber to dye in class.

In this special form of weaving, fabric is woven folded in half on the loom, and then can be unfolded once it is off the loom. In this class, students will learn the technique of double weave, and will design and weave a poncho or blanket, incorporating vertical and or horizontal stripes. Some weaving experience is preferred.

Students will dye wool using locally available plants. First, students will go on gathering excursions to identify and collect dye plants in their natural environment. Then, students will learn how to process the plants and how to dye with them, including preparation of the wool yarn, mordanting procedures, dye bath procedures, finishing the yarn and record keeping.

Students will learn to use natural dyestuffs that have been used historically around the world. The unique properties of cochineal, madder, logwood, alkanet, brazilwood, cutch and osage orange will be learned, and students will dye larger quantities with each material. In addition, students will learn to prepare an indigo vat, and will learn techniques for dyeing with indigo. Mordanting, safety procedures, and record keeping will be covered.

** This class takes place during the El Rito Studio Tour—students will be able to visit other tour sites after the class Saturday and Sunday.

Students will build on their basic knowledge of natural dyes to combine dyestuffs in varying proportions and over dye yarn with indigo to create a much larger range of colors. Gradations, where the color changes in increments from one hue to another, will be explored. Students will also learn to shift colors with different modifiers, including pH and iron, to further expand the variety of colors they are able to produce.

Join Liesel at her studio in Española for a day of exploration of indigo and woad dyeing! We will learn about several different methods of creating blue; an indigo fermentation vat, an indigo standard reduction vat, and using fresh woad leaves. We will over dye colors as well, creating a range of purples and greens, as well as indigo blues. Participants will receive a sample of all of the colors we create, and will also be able to dye up to 1 lb. of their own fiber.

Explore the wide range of color available to you through plants you can grow yourself! In this class we will use the plants growing Liesel’s garden, including Hopi dye sunflowers, coreopsis, tobacco, madder and even bindweed to make a rainbow of samples. Finally, we will make beautiful shades of blue using fresh indigo or woad leaves grown in the garden. Seed sources and planting requirements will be discussed. Students will receive yarn samples to keep.

Learn the basics of using natural dyes to color wool yarns. The properties of well-known dyes such as osage orange, cochineal, cutch, logwood and madder will be explained, so that students will understand the range of color available from each dye material and under what conditions it works best. Students will learn to create and maintain an indigo vat, which will then be used to create blues, and, through over dyeing, greens and purples. In addition, we will discuss dye plants that students can gather or grow themselves. This class will cover safe mordanting procedures, using the least toxic materials available, alum and iron. We will also learn how to prepare dye baths, wash finished yarn, and keep records. Students will make a rainbow of samples to keep, and will be able to go home and begin dyeing their own yarn!

This one day workshop will be an indepth exploration of the large range of colors the cochineal insect can produce, from oranges to purples, with some amazing shades of red in between. We will create a number of gradations, discovering the range of color available through shifting the pH, the depth of shade, different extraction methods, and by using various modifiers and mordant combinations (very low toxicity). Students will learn a lot about the properties of cochineal and can expect to leave with at least 30 samples, all from this one amazing dye!