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  • 12-15 September 2024
  • Val d’Argent, Alsace, France

World tour focusing on fabrics and dyeing preparation techniques

  • Class starts on Monday 18.09 at 09:00,
    departure on Thursday 21.09 at 17:00 after class ends.
  • 4 days workshops
  • MJC of La Vancelle
  • Level: All levels
Languages: French flag English flag Spanish flag

Come join this small tour of the world of fabrics and preparation techniques for natural or chemical dyeing. During this year’s seminar, we will discuss the different craft techniques used around the world to create patterns before dyeing. We will analyze the patterns and colors of the most traditional textiles from each of the regions we will visit in pictures: India, Asia, Africa.

We will prepare mechanical and physical reserves such as shibori – itajime, shibori -nui, batik (waxes), and Katazome (rice paste applied to stencil). Each of these techniques with well-known names have equivalents in all the continents and we will also refer to them. To top it all off, we will dye these different samples in a substantive indigo dye (natural dye) or by a chemical reactive dye.

Pack 1 : Accommodation in a shared room* and full board
550 €
* to be shared with a maximum of 2 other participants

Pack 2 : No accommodation, lunch in restaurant included
450 €

Please contact us for the distribution of the rooms, otherwise we will establish a room plan.
The workshop room and the accommodation are accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM access). Please indicate this when you book.
For any allergies or intolerances, please contact us by email.

Book a seat ⟶

Sewing machines for this class are kindly provided by our partner company

Bring the following material:

An apron, rubber gloves, a mask (covid type)
Minimum 1mx1.5m of natural cotton fabric like poplin, machine washed at 90 degrees and ironed.
The fabric can be salvaged fabric (old cotton sheets, etc.).
The fabric can be pre-cut in a square of 25x25cm for example.
A full pad of ordinary A4 drawing paper.
A ruler, a pencil, a bic pen, a compass (optional), a few sheets of white paper, a scrapbooking scalpel or a cutter, paper and fabric scissors.
Colored polyester thread (1 spool), a few regular needles.
A thermo erasable pen.
An old plastic customer card example or smooth bank card.
(If anyone eats corn or canned fruit. Keep and bring 2 empty boxes of 150 grams).
The desire to learn and imagination!

The teacher

Nathalie LETURCQ

View this teacher's other classes ⟶
Nathalie Leturcq was born in Tournai, Belgium. She has been a master dyer in the Canary Islands for the past ten years and is also a member of the Association des Métiers d'Art in Spain.

Her passion for color and natural pigments is expressed mainly on cotton, linen, silk and wool. Her knowledge is based on the recipes developed in France in the 18th century and her years of experience as a professional dyer.

Seminar progress

Day 1

Welcome and introduction.
Presentation of the seminar.
The fabric: natural fibers suitable for dyeing.
Review of the material brought by the participants.
Reservation techniques from around the world. What are they? What dyes are applied (hot, cold) and why.
Japanese shibori is an art form where rubber bands have no place.
Preparation of sewn mechanical reserves.

Day 2

Reserves made of pasta. The Katazome
The different recipes and patterns of ingredients from around the world.
Their application to the stencil.
Drawing and cutting your stencil.
Preparation of the dough we will use, cooking and application.

Day 3

Batik: wax or kerosene reserves.
Regions of the world where this technique is applied.
The instruments used in batik.
Preparation of the patterns on paper and choice of the way to apply them.
Application of wax on fabric.
Preparation of the indigo vat.

Day 4

Dyeing of all samples.
Drying, ironing and analysis of what we did during the course.
Questions and answers
Tidying up and end.

Accommodation and classroom

The Gîte Le Vancellois is located at the crossroads of the Val d’Argent, the Vallée de Villé and the Sélestat area, facing the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle.
Entirely renovated in 2021, (new photos soon available) it has a large reception room on two levels, a professionally equipped kitchen, a meeting room, a bar, 40 beds and shower rooms.


Towels and sheets are not included, please bring your own.

Calm and nature are at the rendezvous in this exceptional site of the village clearing of La Vancelle.


The workshop will take place in the large, comfortable and luminous, reception room which welcomes all year long the cultural activities of the villagers.
More information: https://gite-vancellois.fr/

Meals will be offered by the Restaurant Elisabeth, located at 100m from the workshop room.
Breakfast and lunch will be served on the spot. Dinner will be served in the restaurant.
More info: https://www.restaurant-elisabeth.fr/

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