Looking for a harvest related craft that's creative and different?  The following craft is related to the harvest here and in West Africa.

Adire Eleko' is a phrase referring to an indigo resist dyed cloth created by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.  A paste is made from the cooked root of the cassava (yucca) plant~~hence the harvest reference~~and designs are drawn (with a feather, for example).  More recently, fabrics can also be stenciled (using metal sheets made by men).  When first dyed in the natural indigo dye (created by chopping and pounding the indigo plant then mixing it with potash), the fabric is a sienna brown sort of color.  Eventually, after hanging in the sun, it turns a beautiful indigo. 

Because of the nature of the dying process, clean lines are not formed.  Bits of dye leak under the paste forming somewhat softened edges.

To begin the design process, the fabric is divided into a grid pattern, and a different design is drawn in each.  Designs for Adire Eleko' are often geometric, as well as nature inspired designs such as plants and animals.^±  (You may wish to draw out your design on paper first.)  For design samples of traditonal Edire Eleko', go to

For each cloth you will need approximately:

6 Tablespoons of Flour

1 teaspoon of alum (available at the pharmacy or your local botanica as alumbre')

2 cups of cold water.

Cook in the top of a double broiler, stirring continuously until it becomes translucent and begins to thicken.  Cool paste then transfer to the squeeze bottle.  Test on newspaper for consistency, adjusting for thickness by beating in additional water to thin, or allowing it to "sit" longer if too thin.

Place several layers of newspaper under fabric before beginning. 

Paste can be squeezed onto fabric to create grid, then designs should be drawn.  It is important to try to complete this project in one sitting, as once the paste begins to dry, the fabric will begin to "shrink up" where it was painted, making drawing on new areas difficult.

Project should be allowed to dye for three days before dying.

Dye fabric with traditional Navy Blue fabric dye, allowing dye to cool thoroughly before dipping (otherwise, paste will melt away, ruining the resist process).  Allow to sit in dye for five minutes.  Rinse under cool water.  Lay flat between clean newspaper, changing it often should it become too wet.  Once excess water has been removed from fabric, paste may be scraped away using a tongue depressor or table knife (even a plastic one will do).  After paste has been thoroughly removed, hang to dry.