Weekend Course: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September 2025
Day 1: 10am to 5.00pm
Day 2: 10am to 5.00pm
The Lansdowne House studio, Glasgow West end and The Indigo plot
This two day immersive course in Indigo pigment and Yellow dye is about gaining hands on knowledge on working with plant to secure colour on cloth.
The plants used will be collected on the Glasgow based #theindigoplot at the Glasgow Botanical garden and the work carried out in The Lansdowne House studio both in the West of Glasgow.
We will collect colour matter and use it to create, blue, yellow and green shades on silk and linen material. We will study the different way of using Indigo pigment, work with both Japanese Indigo and Woad pigment and different types of fibers. The recipes used are tried and tested traditional natural dyes recipees and can be duplicated.
You will leave with a number of samples on wool yarn and silk fabric and sound knowledge about working directly with plant for colour.
You can be a complete beginner on this class.
The unique class is made possible by the availability of Fresh plant material grown @ #theindigoplot the natural dye garden of Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw, dye and textile artist. The plants are grown there by a group of volunteers. Elisabeth also offers an option to local commited dyers to grow Indigo and Woad at home with her in her online course :
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-seeds-to-blue-grow-indigo-woad-with-the-indigo-plot-2025-online-tickets-1073782776189
During the week end we will work with both fresh extraction and dry pigment to be able to compare the pigment count.
We will learn to extract cold and hot methods pigment and set up an Indigo vat for blue.
We will work with fresh and dry plants to colour fibre yellow and learn about fibre preparation (mordant)
We finaly look at options to create green coloured cloth.
Our samples will be cleaned and neutralised and all colours obtaines will be colourfast.
Samples will be splits between participants and you will be given some notes to be able to duplicate those techniques.
`There will be an option to dye some additional pieces you will have with you wether it is yarn or fabric.
I welcome inquisitive students and problem solving is one great feature of this "residency"
During the two days we will make tea and coffee together and take breaks but i can not provide food. There is a local supermarket/deli for sandwiches/salads just around the corner. I would recommend you bring something in with you to avoid wasting valuable time at lunchtime break.
Our community is kept alive via a FB group which allows us to keep the dialogue going after the workshop is over.
For any information please be in touch bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com
I am afraid that all bookings are final and no refunds can be operated
I am so sorry that my premises are not suitable for limited mobility participants, please be on the lookout for my courses in the Glasgow Botanical Garden which is more suitable
