The Complete Guide to Indigo Dyeing

💙 The Complete Guide to Indigo Dyeing Tutorial VI with Michel Garcia — 8 hours | 26 chapters | 5 subtitle languages 🌿 Unlock the secrets of the most iconic natural blue dye on Earth with master dyer, botanist, and chemist Michel Garcia, in this deeply transformative and highly practical course on indigo dyeing. In this 8-hour self-paced video course, filmed at Michel’s atelier in Le Faouët, Brittany, you’ll travel through time, science, and plant alchemy — from ancient traditions to groundbreaking modern techniques. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced dyer, this course will change how you understand, prepare, and use indigo. 💧 What You Will Learn 🌀 Introduction to Indigo & History Michel starts with the botanical and cultural history of indigo, dispelling myths about mysterious fermentation processes and replacing them with precise, beautiful explanations rooted in plant chemistry and enzymatic action. “Forget the bacteria — it's all about enzymes, sugars, pH, and a good eye.” — Michel Garcia 🔬 Dive into the Vat ✅ You’ll learn step-by-step how to prepare: 1-2-3 sugar vat using indigo powder — safe, quick, and clean. 1-2-3-4 leaf vat — Michel’s brand-new, revolutionary method using dried and crushed indigo leaves. Compost vat — stronger than dried leaves, for rich, complex shades. Ferrous sulfate vat — no fermentation needed, no smell, no fuss. Fructose vat — using natural fruit sugars instead of toxic reducers. Reviving tired vats — Michel shows you how to bring an “old friend” back to life with nothing but observation, fresh lime, and gentle care. You'll discover the differences in dyeing cotton, wool, and silk, including why silk turns turquoise in hot vats and how temperature and pH dramatically shift the final shade. 🧪 Recipes Galore! Michel shares precise proportions and shows you how to: Create alkaline environments using wood ash or potassium carbonate Extract dye from Persicaria tinctoria, Indigofera tinctoria, and even woad (Isatis tinctoria) Use vinegar, lime, fruit sugars, and other safe kitchen ingredients to maintain reduction and colorfastness Make your own printing pastes and pigments from leftover vats 🎨 Dyeing Experiments and Color Magic You’ll see vibrant experiments come to life: Layering indigo with madder, weld, and cochineal Printing with indigo carmine for direct blue-violet effects on silk and wool Achieving subtle color gradients and ombrés Creating greens, purples, and deep blacks from a base of indigo This course brings you inside Michel’s artistic eye: how to mix and shift color families using fiber sensitivity, dipping duration, and temperature variation. 🌎 What Makes This Tutorial Unique? No need for fermentation vats or hazardous chemicals. Learn how to build vats from dried leaves available from cosmetic suppliers — it’s easier than you think! Real-time experiments on cotton, silk, wool — not just talk, but results. A strong emphasis on observation over instrumentation. A rare blend of deep chemistry, poetic metaphors, and practical artistry. 🌐 International Access Narration: English (original) Subtitles & handouts: English, French, Italian, Spanish, German Downloads: All videos and handouts are downloadable for lifetime access Community Access: Join Michel's private Facebook group From Plant to Dye for Q&A and peer feedback 🧵 Who Is It For? Natural dyers ready to master indigo Textile artists and printmakers exploring sustainable methods Botanical enthusiasts curious about plant pigments Art teachers, eco-designers, and anyone who loves blue magic 🍃 Bonus Yumminess ✔ Michel’s famous 1-2-3-4 method — fully demonstrated with commentary ✔ A silent duel between dried leaf and compost vats ✔ The secrets of “printing without printing” using indigo carmine ✔ Insider tips on how to spot when your vat is ready — by eye and by instinct ✔ And the charm of Michel’s voice, metaphors, and gestures — you’ll feel like you’re right in his studio Ready to turn your blues into gold? Enroll now in Tutorial 6 and master the most soulful dye of all — indigo.