March 2025 – Tannin Rainbow Online workshop with Kathy Hattori

Description

Tannin Rainbow Online workshop with Kathy Hattori

Saturday March 15th, 2025 from 10AM-1PM

You loved this workshop so much, we’re offering another session!

The workshop will be recorded and available for 180 days after purchase.

Learn how to create striking color gradations using our pre-mordanted cotton fabric fat quarters, natural dyes, indigo and a few surprises.  Our exploration will reveal 32 beautiful and harmonious colors using three dyes, an indigo vat, and a touch of iron powder.

Tannins are a bitter and astringent compound found so abundantly in many plants.  In food, they serve as the slight pucker in black coffee and tea, and the “oaky” flavor in aged wines. Tannins are used in medicine and for leather tanning.  For us, they are the natural dyer’s not-so-secret-weapon to beautiful color. For the natural colorist, tannins provide a rich base for unusual and eye-catching combinations, and they’re particularly effective on plant fibers such as cotton and linen.

In this workshop, I’ll demonstrate how to create beautiful color gradations using our pre-mordanted fat quarter blanks.  These fabric packs come with 4 fat quarters (each approx. 18×22 inches), and each quarter is treated with a different tannin. We’ll learn how to work with each tannin base shade, how to combine it with other dyes, modifiers and indigo to make a stunning gradation for stitching, quilting, appliqué and other uses.

I will explain how to create unusual color combinations with full instructions for each tannin base.  Detailed notes will serve as the inspiration for creating your own signature shades.  With 4 different tannin options, the color possibilities are endless!

Each participant will receive a PDF of how-to along with hints and tips.  In addition, all participants will receive the link to view the video to follow along.

Materials Needed to create the recipes in this workshop

• 1 pack Tannin fat quarters from Botanical Colors.
• 25 grams madder extract powder
• 25 grams marigold mix extract powder
• 50 grams fustic extract powder
• 1 indigo vat (medium strength)
• 10 grams of iron powder
• 10 grams soda ash

Equipment needed

• Dye pot – approximately 4-6 liters (4-6 quarts)
• Heat source
• Digital scale that measures in grams
• Stir spoon for the dye pot
• Teaspoons to measure dyes
• Access to cold water and a sink to rinse fabrics and indigo (a bucket of water is fine, too)
• A teapot for boiling water (to dissolve dyes)
• small cups, jars or beakers to dissolve the dyes (225 ml or 8 ounce size is good)
• Drying rack and clothespins
• Dropcloth, towels or rags for spills
• Scissors
• Permanent marker, needle and thread
• Blue Tape or Tyvek to make “waterproof” fabric labels.  If you have your own labeling system, feel free to use that as well.

FAQ

Can I supply my own fabric and will you show us how to mordant?

• Yes.  You will receive mordant instructions during the workshop.  If you are already familiar with mordanting using tannin-alum, we used the following tannins: oak gall, sumac, cutch and quebracho and you can prepare your fabrics beforehand.  All tannins were used at 10% wof.

Can I dye other fibers, including yarn with this method?

• Yes.  Other fibers such as linen, hemp, bamboo, and other cellulose blends should work well with these techniques.  We have not done much testing on silk and wool, but it is worth a try to see what results you get.

How long do I have to view the video?

• Access is available for 6 months after the end of the workshop, so for this online workshop, you will have access until September 30, 2025.