tatakizome workshop

Tatakizome is the easiest technique to capture the colours of plants onto fabric. Leaves and flowers are placed between two layers of fabric and “hammered” until their colours appear. This technique was born in Japan and means literally to dye (zome 染め) hammering (tataki たたき). Each participant would have the chance to print two cotton bandanas and learn the basics about the colours of plants and their fasteners in a fun way. The tools used are very simple. In addition to rubber hammers, we can use pebbles, empty bottles and even spoons. We will mainly use the plants that are born spontaneously on the sidewalks and streets around us. They are generally considered weeds, but in many cases, they are medicinal and dye plants. Through this discovery, we inspire a more comprehensive look of each participant to the nature that surrounds us, with all its generosity and beauty, even in an urban area like Metro Vancouver. This workshop is great for summertime because it can be run both outside and inside, besides being perfect for kids.