Due to COVID-19, FTWG cancelled its 2022 Conference two months before it was scheduled to start. As a result, this workshop was not taught in 2022.

Khmer Hol & Indigo Dye

Skill Level

Beginner

Required Skills:

  • No dyeing experience required. 
  • The yarns we dye will not be woven as they will be taken home wet.  You need the skill to warp and weave with the yarn once you are home.
  • The resist-dyed yarns can be woven as a plain weave if 3-harness weaving is not available to you.
  • Similarly dyed yarns can also be used in knitting

Class Length

  • 2.5 Days
  • Friday: 9 am to 12 pm, 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Saturday: 9 am to 12 pm, 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Sunday: 9 am to 12 pm

Description

Khmer textiles are among the most intricate and beautiful silk Ikats in the world. This workshop focuses on learning the techniques used by Cambodian artist to create these 2/1 twills with patterned wefts. Working with natural fibers (tencel, cotton, silk, or wool) and indigo dye, yarns will be tied and dyed during the workshop. The yarns will not be woven during the workshop, they will be taken home wet. Khmer textile samples will be studied and participants taught to graph designs. After preliminary samples are made individually created designs will be tied.

A variety of bright colors and neutral colors may be used. Working with indigo on white, a range of blues will be achieved through repeated dipping. When bright colors are used, a different range of blended colors will be achieved.

Fees

Registration Fee $290 for FTWG members and $320 for all others.
Materials Fee $10

Materials Fee includes: dye, distilled water, resists for tying, graph paper, handouts, and warping peg use.

Students to Bring

  • A minimum of four ounces 10/2 tencel or other natural fiber for weft
  • A minimum of one pound of additional fiber for warp
  • Note: Tencel works beautifully and has a nice luster. Silk was used traditionally but is more expensive. Cotton is fine. Wool gives softer lines. 10/2 gives a nice amount of detail. You can choose to work with finer but not much heavier than 8/2.
  • Two C clamps to hold warping pegs or a frame for tying; students will receive specs for building a frame, if desired
  • Three different colors of pencils
  • Scissors
  • Plastic bags for carrying wet yarn home
  • Gloves
  • Apron
  • Safety glasses
  • Mask
  • Tags for labelling skeins

Gallery

These pictures offer examples of the workshop content or experience.