Tannin Grayscale with Cara Marie Piazza

Description

Tannin Grayscale Online workshop with Cara Piazza

Online workshop held on Saturday January 25, 2025

10AM-1PM Pacific / 1 – 4pm Eastern

The workshop will be recorded and available for

180 days after purchase.

 

Learn how to create moody gray gradations using our pre-mordanted cotton fabric fat quarters, natural dyes, logwood and a few surprises.

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, Cara will demonstrate how to create a gorgeous gray color gradation 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.

She 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, and you can apply this technique to other tannins we carry.

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
• 1 4oz bottle of liquid logwood.
• 25 grams marigold mix powder
• 1 indigo vat (medium strength)
• 100g of ferrous sulfate

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 to make “waterproof” fabric labels
• Gloves
• An n95 or dust mask