June 5th, 2027
10:00 pm - 4:00 pm
At Ecology of Color
10564 Ditch LN
Rockvale, TN 37153
Indigo: Leaf to Vat
Starter plants included with registration!
This workshop is for those interested in growing their own indigo but unsure how to get the homegrown color onto textiles. We will go beyond simple fresh-leaf indigo dye methods and learn how to extract indigo pigment for long-term storage and for use in building dye vats.
What We'll Cover:
The essentials of growing and harvesting indigo-bearing plants in a Southeastern garden. Including Japanese Indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) varieties, True Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), and Woad (Isatis tinctoria).
How to set up an aqueous extract of indigo for making pigment cakes.
How to preserve indigo leaves for future use.
How to make and work with indigo vats from fresh leaves, extracted pigment, and dried leaves.
This workshop is a hands-on lab experience designed to help you build the skills and confidence to work with indigo plants from your own garden. Together, we’ll move from fresh plants to finished textiles, exploring several ways to capture, process, and dye with garden-grown indigo.
We’ll make a series of small vats using different methods and learn how to observe, troubleshoot, and adjust them along the way. You’ll dye samples throughout the day, documenting your recipes, results, and observations to create a practical reference you can return to when working at home.
The emphasis is on understanding the process, not simply following instructions, so you leave with a better sense of how indigo behaves and the confidence to experiment with your own harvest.
All materials are included. Participants will leave with a detailed reference collection of dyed samples, written instructions and recipes, and several indigo plant starts to grow in their own garden.
Our facilities include an air-conditioned classroom, a bathroom, and abundant outdoor workspaces. Please dress comfortably for both indoor and outdoor climates, as well as an afternoon of standing, sitting, and brief walking.
Coffee, tea, and a treat will be served.
Cancelation Policy
If you need to withdraw from a workshop, a refund will be issued, minus transaction fees, provided that notice is given at least 4 weeks before the workshop date. If shorter notice is given, we will issue a refund if we can fill your spot. You may transfer your enrollment to a friend at any time.