Katazome with Natural Dyes

5-day workshop with Akemi Nakano Cohn (USA/Japan)

The most spellbinding kimonos derive their beauty from intricate imagery from within the natural world. Many popular images are portrayed through katazome, a traditional Japanese rice paste resist technique that is applied to fabric through stencils. 

Students will develop design ideas by observing nature, such as leaves, flowers, and branches from the surroundings. Rice paste which is specially processed bran & sweet rice flour, soymilk recipes, and stencil cutting are instructed.  A variety of natural dyes will be applied; Weld, Madder, Lac, Cutch, Logwood, Chestnut and Cochineal. Use of different mordants (e.g. alum, iron and tannine) create a wide range of hues. 

In addition, an indigo dye vat will be used (synthetic pre reduced version). Pigments will be demonstrated for details of design.

This class is for all levels but some dyeing experience is requested.



 

Inschrijven niet mogelijk

Please, bring the following 

-FABRIC

prewashed white/natural fabric: total 2-4 yard medium weight e.g. charmeuse=(crepe) satin, fuji, shantung/honan, doupioni

Pre-wash for silk: Use mild soap with warm water (not hot). Wash well, rinse well.

Silk works very well. You can mix various sizes, weights and materials to experiment. Silk is easier to dye with natural dyes than cotton.
Cotton and/or linen, ramie are slightly less bright in color.

You may however, experiment cotton, linen, ramie.
Pre-wash for cotton, linen: get enough warm water to cover cotton or linen fabric in a pot. Add ½ teaspoon of Synthrapol, and 4 teaspoons of Soda Ash.
Simmer approx. 1 hour. Rinse very well.

NOTE: approx. 1yard of fabric will be provided.

-BRUSHES

2 – 4 small and medium size nylon brushes (flat and round) Soft animal hair brush doesn’t work on fabric because it is too soft.
3 - 4 flat large brushes (2”~ 3 1/2” wide, from art supply store, paint store, hardware store for painting color for background. Bristle brush works fine.

-VARIOUS
-X-Act knife Sharp pointed knife
-Pallet or plastic/styrofoam plates, or small tray (to use as pallet)

-Plastic/styrofoam cups (rinse brushes, use for rice paste)

-Disappearing marking pen or chalk

-1towel (e.g. face towel)

-Newspaper (amount is approx. Sunday newspaper)

-Rubber gloves and thin surgical gloves

-Scissors

-Masking tape

-Old credit card or phone card (use as a spatula to spread rice paste)

-Correction liquid bottle e.g. White-out

-Black felt pen e.g. Sharpie

-Sketch book/ notebook, pencil,

-Needle& thread

-2 frames for stretching your fabric on. (size 40x40 / 45x45 cm)+pins

<OPTIONAL>

-Pastry cone with tips

-Mat for stencil cutting

-Handy hair dryer with extention cord

-Nylon net; approx. handkerchief size or ¼ yard if you can get.
Made of polyester or nylon, like cheese cloth or gauze; can be used for ballerina’s costume.

<REQUEST>
IF YOU OWN A FAN....AND ARE WILLING TO BRING IT....PLS CONTACT ME