Vat Dye/Discharge Classes

Beginner Class

Vat Dye/Discharge One Day Beginner Class 9:00 am-4:00(ish) pm with a lunch break 6 hours
Age: 14-Adult
Cost: $120, includes materials
Vat Dye/Discharge : Color is discharged (removed) from previously dyed fabric and replaced by new color in a single step. There’s also a “special effect,” a light colored “halo” around the new color areas. Students will learn how to mix discharge paste, and add vat dyes. They will use a variety of objects to print and will also create original printing blocks. Print fabrics and learn the steaming and finishing processes, and take home a completed silk scarf and a cotton piece that could be made into a pillow or framed.

Bring: work apron, if you have one, and wear old clothes

particle/vapor respirator, if you have one

wood burning tool, if you have one

flat(ish) found objets to print with (could be leaves, nuts and bolts, clothespins, mesh, anything with an interesting shape)

If you don’t have any of the above tools, don’t worry, as I have extras to share.

Intermediate Class

Vat Dye Discharge:
Beginner class required
2 or 3 sessions, hours flexible
Cost: $120.00 for chemicals and use of equipment; Bring your own fabrics/scarves/wearables to work with (100% natural fabrics only-no wool. Dyed or printed fabrics need to be dischargable: test with bleach pen. Silks can be ordered from Dharma Trading or Exotic Silks.
You’ll work on your own for much of the time, assuming that you already know how to do this. Use my equipment and supplies to do whatever projects you like. I’ll help you get started with the underdyes and will be available for instruction/suggestions/assistance as needed. This would be a good opportunity to re-work previous projects that didn’t turn out quite as expected, so bring along anything you want to “fix.”