Allerton Park & Retreat Center

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn unique artistic techniques at Shibori Stitching & Natural Indigo Dyeing from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16 in the Mansion Dining Room. Led by Jenny Knavel, this workshop will familiarize participants with creative, multicultural practices that use predominantly plant-based materials.

Shibori is a Japanese, manual tie-dyeing technique that produces different patterns on a fabric. Students will learn the fundamentals of mokume (wood grain), shibori, guntai (military shibori) and karamatsu (Japanese larch shibori) to dye a cotton sampler and scarves.

Participants will also be instructed on the basics of natural indigo dyeing, one of the oldest dyes used for textiles and printing. Artists and craftspeople from many different countries have utilized this organic compound to create its distinctive blue color. An organic dye vat will be prepared using indigo powder (from the plant Indigofera tinctoria) and students will use it to dye fabric during this course.

$100/person (14+, 14 to 17-year-olds must be accompanied by a registered adult). Register by June 10. All sales are final.

Students will need to bring a clean, old bucket; kitchen gloves; water spray bottle; old, clean towels/rags; and a seam ripper. Students should also wear old clothes or aprons.

Complete your visit with an overnight stay during our Weekend Wind Down, which features discounted room rates ($110/night + tax). View rooms here and make a reservation online or by calling 217-333-2387.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Jenny Knavel received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997. She is a professor of art at Western Illinois University in Macomb, where she teaches primarily design and digital photography classes. In addition to teaching, she is an active artist. Her work has been juried into numerous regional and national and international juried exhibitions.