Join Unwind's Friday night knitting group in knitting the Unwind Lace Shawlette.  If you're new to lace knitting this is the perfect place to start.  I wrote the pattern for beginner lace knitters and will be there to give free instruction from 6pm-7pm on both days. Also the pattern is free AND Kim at Unwind is offering discounts on yarn purchased for the KAL, as well as draws and special gifts! Wha?! Too good to be true?!  Nope, see you there.

In this workshop students will, 1) make natural dye extracts 2) prepare fabric for taking natural dyes 3) make natural imprints on silk scarves using plant matter 4) use simple shibori resist techniques to create texture and pattern on silk scarves 5) shift colours using post mordants and dyes. 6) make and leave with a collection of samples of naturally dyed yarns.

*Materials fee $62: includes 5 silk scarves and yarn for sample books.  There will be an opportunity to buy additional silk scarves at the workshop for $5-$10 each.  Please bring materials fee to Janna in cash or cheque on the first class

In this workshop students will, 1) make natural dye extracts 2) prepare fabric for taking natural extracts 3) thicken extracts for printing 4) Make and use water-based resists 5)Print with thickened extracts on silk scarves using found or hand-made print blocks and stencils. 

*Materials fee $72: includes 5 silk scarves.  There will be an opportunity to buy additional silk scarves for $5-10 each. Please bring materials fee to Janna in cash or cheque on the first class

Students will learn about the magic of indigo including how to prepare fabric and how to prepare, maintain and troubleshoot an indigo vat.  Simple shibori resist techniques will be explored here as well.  Students will leave this class with the confidence to perform these tasks at home.

Lab fee $60: includes products for your own at-home indigo vat and three silk scarves.  There will be an opportunity to buy additional silk scarves at the workshop for $5-$10 each.  Please bring materials fee to Janna in cash or cheque on the first class.

For five days in mid-July jennadawn and I participated as artists in Peristyle Nomade's la boite à médiation variable.  We participated as members of our artist collective, SCRATCH, but sadly our third member, Lauren Osmond, couldn't join us this time 'round.  In the past the three of us had planted a natural dye garden in Articule's garden and later gave a natural dyeing workshop there.  

For this event we proposed that people see our act of sharing knowledge (plant dyeing knowledge) as a performative art installation.  We spent five days in Parc Mederic Martin in Montreal, mostly staying close to our little dye hut (as seen above).  It was three days preparing natural dyes and fabric to be dyed and the last two dyeing cotton, linens and silks with marigold, onion skins, brazilwood, logwood, lavendar, pomegranate, tumeric and more.  Of course I had to have an indigo vat as well, especially since it was my only chance to have one this summer.  On day two we also held a fun natural dyeing and printing workshop.   As part of our mandate to share we offered a pamphlet with natural dyeing directions to anyone passing through and of course to anyone who inquired about the purpose of our being at the park.

Above are photos from throughout the week and below are ones from the final reception.  There are more to see here

photos by LePetitRusse

Last month my friends Jenna and Lauren and I put on a natural-printing workshop at the artist-run center, Articule.  All the participants unwrapped their bundles at home, so we don't have the finished silk scarf photos, but I have these ones.  I love how every stage of this technique is beautiful.

I've been teaching an after-school program to grade 3's and 4's since last October and it has been so much fun.  We see each other every Thursday and they have only one hour to to learn a technique and make a project.  The things they make in that time are really impressive.  I'll be sad to be saying good-bye to these girls when I go on maternity leave soon.

These photos are from the embroidery class and the felting classes.  Some other techniques we've covered are natural dyeing, shibori, eco-printing, finger knitting, weaving, basketry and block printing.

Fun times ahead with this Natural Dyeing workshop :)  So this workshop explores a lot of the same things as the one I'm offering at Unwind, but will have a little more of a focus on natural printing (or eco printing) using local flowers.  The Window has a community garden near by so I'm hoping to spend the bulk of the workshop there (weather permitting).  Students will also learn how to make dye stock solutions using both found plants and store bought natural dyes for immersion dyeing, and we'll use shibori resist methods to create pattern and design.  We will be experimenting with mostly silk but I'll have wool and other fibre there to sample with too.

There are four places left in the class.  To sign up call The Window at 694 629 8396

Natural Dyeing at The Window
August 9, 16, 23
1pm-3pm
$100 including a selection of silk scarves

PS I recently sent eight scarves to The Window to sell there (some are shown above), but they are also great examples of what students will be learning.  Go check them out if you're curious.

Yes there are more workshops to be had!  This time they are in Vancouver at The Window Community Art Shop.  First let me tell you a bit about The Window; it's a pretty special place.  The Window is a non-profit social enterprise which showcases local art and crafts.  Part of what they do is offer people with barriers to the workplace an opportunity to learn art-making techniques which they might use to create products to sell in the shop.  They also support local artists and are always looking for local work to sell so check it out if you have your own product line.  It just might be the place for you. 

Something else that is really special about this place is that it offers its space to sewers and ceramic artists.  So, after offering sewing and ceramic workshops their space is available to use to experiment with your new found techniques.  They have wheels, kilns, sewing machines and sergers right in the space!  So convenient and accessible!  Love it.

Since this is my workshop blog of course I writing to announce some workshops I'll be offering at this wonderful space: 1) Beginner Knitting ~on August 8th, 15th and 22nd~ and 2) Natural Dyeing ~on August 9th, 16th and 23rd~.  Both occur between 1pm-3pm on those dates. 

In this post I'll detail the Beginner Knitting workshop and soon I'll post again with details about the Natural Dyeing workshop.  It will be different from the one I'm offering at Unwind in a few ways.

Beginning Knitting at The Window is for those of you who have never picked up knitting needles and are dying to learn.  Participants will leave the three-session workshop feeling comfortable with casting on, knitting, purling and binding off - You'll learn that that's all you'll ever need too.  Half way though the sessions students will have the opportunity to start a quick and easy project like this cowl (yes, by then fall will be just around the corner).  Other projects can be discussed based on the wants and needs of the students.

This workshop is open to all!  There are four places left in the class.  To sign up call The Window at 694 629 8396

Beginner Knitting
$60
August 8, 15, 22
1pm-3pm

www.thewindowartshop.com

 

Participants will leave the workshop with the knowledge AND materials/supplies to begin their own in-home indigo vat.  We will also be exploring the fascinating Japanese art of shibori which will achieve beautiful texture and design on your indigo-dyed cloth. 

Three silk scarves are provided, but students can bring their own silk, cotton or wool fabric/clothing to the workshop to be dyed.*

It's a one day workshop on Saturday August 18th

$75 plus $40 for the supplies which includes products for your own at-home indigo vat and 3 silk scarves.

Additional silk scarves will be available to purchase at the workshop for $7 each.

Call Unwind to sign up

604 886 1418

*we will try, but It is not guaranteed that we will have enough time or dye to dye all the extra fibre you bring.  Please wash your fabric/clothing before the workshop to prep it for dyeing.

As part of the natural dye workshop at Unwind we will be dyeing at least 5 silk scarves per student as well as producing a lot of samples which students can make beautiful sample books with.  Creating and having sample books is one of those things that makes me happy.  They are beautiful, original objects to have and flip through at your leisure (love doing this AMAP), and with the right info inside (with which you think you might be able to duplicate the results) they are invaluable tools.  Check out these beautiful natural dye sample books for some inspiration.

If you're interested in taking this natural dye and print workshop call unwind to register.  (604) 886 1418


-Janna

This is going to be a really fun workshop.  Students will learn how to make dye stock solutions for immersion dyeing, using shibori resist methods to create pattern and design.  We will also learn how to print on fabric using found natural materials.  Multiple mordanting techniques will be covered, as well as discharging and rusting techniques to achieve a plethora of results!

FUN FUN FUN

Three Tuesday evenings from 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
August 7th, 14th & 21st
$99 (not including $58 materials fee)

materials fee includes 5 silk scarves and a selection of natural dyes and mordants to take home. There will be an opportunity to buy additional silk scarves at the workshop for $7 each.

Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge
1161 Sunshine Coast Hwy.
Gibsons, BC
604 886 1418

To register phone the store to reserve your space!  And if you're from out of town Kim at Unwind will pick you up and drop you off at the Langdale ferry terminal.  We've already got some out-of-towners signed up!

Sunday's Indigo workshop was so much fun!!

The best part about teaching indigo dyeing is the pure excitement of the students as they witness the magic of indigo for the first time, when they pull their fabric out of the vat and see it change from green to blue before their eyes. 

Here are a few pictures from the day including one where a few of us sang to the vat; Indigo vats can be temperamental and ours was looking a bit dismal, so we thought the indigo gods would appreciate a song (The Little Mermaid song - the one where she gets her voice back - as per CapU '09 tradition).  Fun times!

I'll add photos to this album as I receive them from students (thanks Kim and Franca for these ones).

Indigo dyeing is by far my favourite method of dyeing fibre.  When I lived in Vancouver I had a back yard (above) where, in the Spring and Summer seasons, I'd always have a large indigo vat (and invite friends over to join as you can see).  In the Fall and Winter I took over the laundry room; so needless to say I always had one around.   In Montreal our apartment does not allow for such luxuries, so I'm super excited that when I leave the Arctic in two weeks I will be visiting Gibsons for a month where I will have a yard to play/dye in.  YAY!

I'm also having a dye day in a yarn shop while I'm there!  So I'd like to invite any of you who are interested in learning about the magical process of indigo dyeing to join me at Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge where I'm holding a one-day workshop on Sunday June19th.  Participants will leave the workshop with the knowledge AND materials/supplies to begin their own in-home indigo vat.  We will also be exploring the fascinating Japanese art of shibori which will achieve beautiful texture and design on your indigo-dyed cloth.

Intro to Indigo and Shibori
instructor Janna Maria Vallee
Sunday June 19th, 2011
9am-5:30pm

Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge
1161 Sunshine Coast Hwy
Gibsons, BC

Call Unwind!
604 886 1418

www.unwindknitandfibre.ca