Participants Create and Experience the Magic of Natural Indigo Dyeing

In March 2026, RenewAll welcomed artist and educator Kate McComas for a hands‑on workshop exploring the centuries‑old practice of natural indigo dyeing. Ten participants gathered to learn how indigo is prepared, how fabric absorbs this vivid blue pigment, and how creativity and community come together through the process of making.

Crafting the Indigo Bath

Kate introduced participants to the simple but fascinating chemistry behind natural indigo. To create the dye bath, three essential ingredients are needed:

• Natural indigo powder
• A reducing agent (in this workshop, Kate used ripe bananas)
• A base, such as calcium hydroxide (pickling lime)

These components are combined in quart jars and allowed to sit until the mixture settles and reduces. Once mixed with warm water, the dye bath becomes active and ready for use. Stainless‑steel pots were used throughout the workshop to ensure the natural ingredients interacted cleanly, without any interference from reactive materials.

A Creative Experience

Participants worked with two materials: a delicate silk scarf and a breathable cotton sarong. For the sarongs, Kate guided the group through tying techniques reminiscent of traditional tie‑dyeing: folding, twisting, and binding the fabric to create resist patterns. Each person experimented with their own approach, resulting in one‑of‑a‑kind pieces full of character and movement.

The excitement in the room was unmistakable. Many shared that they felt more connected to their community, inspired by the shared creative energy, and newly confident in their artistic skills. By the end of the session, the group had crafted a collection of mesmerizing, deeply personal works, each one reflecting the maker’s individuality.

Kate shared that the students’ enthusiasm made teaching even more rewarding, noting how engaged and curious the group was throughout the afternoon.

About the Instructor

Kate McComas has been immersed in fiber arts since her teens, beginning with her first quilt stitched on a treadle sewing machine. She holds a master’s degree in art with a specialization in weaving and has taught at institutions including Marshall University, Cedar Lakes Crafts, Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, and the Huntington Museum of Art.

Her quilt designs with Cabin Creek Quilts have been featured in Southern Living Magazine, and she has collaborated with arts organizations across West Virginia, including the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, MountainMade Foundation, and Heritage Farm Museum and Village. Most recently, she taught hand spinning at the Governor’s Honors Academy at Marshall University. Today, Kate continues to create, teach, and share her love of fiber arts, selling her work at Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley, WV.

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