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University of Alaska Anchorage

Event Details

Into the Blue: An Indigo Textile Workshop

Promotional flyer for Kenai Peninsula College’s “Into the Blue: An Indigo Textile Workshop” on November 7. The flyer features a photo of two smiling people outdoors and blue indigo-dyed fabric with varied patterns. The hands-on workshop introduces participants to indigo dyeing and resist techniques, including folding, binding, wrapping, and blocking cotton fabric. No prior art or textile experience is required. Two sessions are offered: 10 a.m.–noon, a family-friendly session for children accompanied by an adult, and 1–3 p.m., a teen/adult session. Cost is $55 per person. A QR code and the link bit.ly/kpc_noncredit_classes provide more details.

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Indigo is more than a beautiful blue—it is one of the oldest and most enduring natural dyes in human history. Across cultures and centuries, people have cultivated indigo plants, developed methods for extracting their rich blue pigment, and used it to transform everyday cloth into objects of beauty, meaning, and identity.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will enter the world of indigo through color, pattern, and experimentation. Working with indigo dye and simple resist techniques, participants will fold, bind, wrap, and block cotton fabric to create unique patterns before immersing their textiles in the dye bath. The transformation is part of the magic: fabric emerges from the indigo bath yellow-green and, as it meets the air, gradually changes into the characteristic deep blue of indigo.

Each participant will receive two cotton tea towels to experiment with and will have the opportunity to bring an additional textile item to dye—such as socks, a bandana, or a T-shirt. Participants are encouraged to explore how simple folds, ties, rubber bands, string, and blocking materials can produce surprisingly complex patterns.

The workshop is designed to be both creative and approachable. No previous art or textile experience is necessary. Participants will leave with their dyed textiles, new techniques to explore, and an appreciation for the remarkable history and possibilities of natural color.

Workshop Details

Cost: $55 per participant
Length: 2 hours per session
Maximum: 20 participants per session
Date: Saturday November 7th

Times:

  • Family Friendly Morning Session 10:00am-12:00pm (children must have an adult present)
  • Teen-Adult Afternoon Session 1:00pm-3:00pm

Location: Kenai Peninsula College, Art Studio/Brockel 194 (confirmed participants will receive an email with a map of the college)

Instructors: Joe and Melinda Ostraff

Materials Provided

  • Indigo dye
  • Rinse bath
  • Rubber bands
  • String
  • Materials for creating resist and blocking patterns
  • Two cotton tea towels for each participant

Participants Provide
Participants should bring one additional textile item to dye, such as:

  • Socks
  • Bandana
  • T-shirt

Participants should also bring a large Ziplock bag for transporting their wet/dyed items home. Please do not bring sweatshirts or pants.

 

Kenai River Campus
The University of Alaska is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution. The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status. © 2025 University of Alaska Anchorage
Ⓒ Kenai Peninsula College. All rights reserved.
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