Flu season is coming up, and who knows what new COVID variant will emerge? Make light-weight, comfortable silk masks with high protective value in beautiful indigo-dyed fabric! (Or just dye some fabric with indigo!) Protect yourself and those around you from the spread of COVID-19, flu, and other respiratory infections with a four-layer mask of 8mm habotai silk, or combine high threadcount cotton with silk. Enough fabric is included in the course fee to create 2 masks, along with 2 nose-strips, 4 tie-strings and 4 silicone cord locks, or you can just make 1 silk scarf if you prefer. We'll start by dyeing the fabric for the outer layer, then, while that's drying, the instructor will quickly review the research on fabric protection, then demo how to construct a completed mask. We will also discuss how to fit a mask for best effectiveness. Pre-dyed silk and cotton pieces are also available if you want to skip straight to construction. Materials for extra masks/scarves available for purchase during class.

Note: if you just want to bring one or two of your own natural fiber items to dye with indigo during the class, that's also welcome! The instructor is happy to demonstrate Shibori dyeing techniques and advise about creating your own dye vat -- Port City Makerspace also maintains its own ongoing dye vat which you can use between classes. Shirts etc. use more dye than the small silk rectangles for face masks, so the fee is the same.

Here are a few resources recommended by the instructor:

• "Instructor's Mask Tutorial: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMoYW1BQDHIJZx4am1G5rHbagZOK6bvYm8jGvf0_rvtgynob3T7zZExgVO-ueCOfA?key=eHA0RWpGSXBGZ1dGZWFnRE1sMVl3RC1GUWhiQzZB
• Technical mask reference: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02211
• Technical mask reference 2: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252
• Indigo/Shibori dye reference: https://www.dharmatrading.com/information/shibori-diy.html"

Attendees should bring:

• Wear comfortable old clothes (including shoes). If you have a latex allergy, bring your own gloves.
• One pre-washed natural fiber item to dye (cotton, wool, silk, linen, etc.)
• Note: Synthetic fibers will not take indigo dye.
• Wear old clothes (including shoes).

Gloves and face coverings will be provided.

Fabric and notions are included in the class fee to make 2 masks. Materials for additional masks: $3ea. Dye fee: $1 per shirt-sized item after the first 3 items in this class.

Kids and families welcome, open to ages 12 and up (under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian)

Instructor: Elizabeth Dalton

Elizabeth Dalton is a local crafter with experience in fiber arts including dyeing, sewing, weaving, and crochet, as well as jewelry making and multimedia making and mending. She learned traditional Japanese indigo dyeing in Kyoto, Japan. When not dyeing fabric or making face masks to give away, she works for an educational technology company as a research analyst. She has made and given away hundreds of masks for community members, friends, coworkers and family.

Attendees who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to wear a mask and social distance.

If you are sick or think you may have been exposed recently, please don't come!

This class needs a minimum of 1 attendee to run

Registration closes 3 days before event.

Attendees can receive refunds up to 7 days before your event start date.