Aya Fiber Studio

Join master dyer Gasali Adeyemo for a 4-day workshop in traditional Yoruba techniques of Adire Eleko and Tie-Dye. You will begin by learning about Gasali’s Nigerian culture and the meaning behind the designs he teaches. Following demonstrations, the student will get hands-on practice in both techniques.

Adire Eleko is the process of creating designs using cassava paste (also called yucca), a small broom, and a chicken feather. Students learn how to prepare the paste, so they can do it themselves at home. There are two techniques in Adire, the first is to use a stencil, and the second is to create the patterns by hand. Both methods will be taught. Students are shown how to prepare indigo and use it to dye their work. The process of removing cassava from their work will be covered as the final step.

Tie-dye is the process of using raffia to tie fabric and then dying the fabric. There are a few different tie-dye techniques; the first is called stitch resist where the design is made using a needle to stitch the raffia into the fabric. The other method is done by hand using raffia to create designs. Students learn both Tie-Dye techniques as well as how to dye the fabric and remove the raffia.

The primary dye used in this workshop is Indigo. Indigo has been used as a dye in Africa for a very long time. It comes from the indigo plant which grows wild in Nigeria. The Yoruba name for indigo is “elu”. Historically, indigo has been used for medicine as well as a dye to cure an upset stomach, ward off viruses, and as a house paint to prevent sicknesses from entering the home.

Materials Fee: $40 paid directly to the instructor which covers indigo dye, raffia, Adire tools, batik tools, and a handout.

Special Tools or Equipment to bring:

2 yards of 100% white cotton PFD fabric

Apron

Rubber gloves

Scissors and a seam ripper

Notebook and pen

*optional, in addition to the 2 yards of fabric students can bring a tote bag, t-shirt or scarf as long as they are 100% cotton or silk.