Colors of the American Revolution

Friday, March 19th - 1pm-5pm

Times were different 250 years ago, including fabric dyes. What dyes were used to create the color of our national flag? Where did they come from and how were they achieved? What about the uniforms the enlisted men both Patriots and British? If you are creating a project for our country’s 250th anniversary what better way to celebrate than using authentic colors. The colors are great for flags, coverlet mats, and so much more. We will dye wool using indigo, madder, and cochineal which are all authentic to the colonial period. All three have high color and light fastness. Students will be provided with a notebook of information and an eighth yard of wool fabric to dye for each color.

Materials Required: Dye aprons and house cleaning gloves are encouraged.

Prerequisites: None