Cloth dyeing。Chuoye Cottage, Sanyi

位於三義山區的卓也小屋，有民宿、餐廳外，還有染布體驗。這裡的一景一物，都充滿著濃濃的鄉村自然風，是個幽靜清雅的園區。

Chuoye Cottage is located in the mountain of Sanyi. It offers rooms, a restaurant, and cloth dyeing activities. It has a rural living style, and is filled with a simple and quiet atmosphere.

以竹子及枕木搭成的木屋裡頭，是供應養生蔬食料理的餐廳，在這樣的環境下用餐，真是一大享受。

Inside the bamboo and wood built cabin, it offers health food dining. Eating in here is such an enjoyment!

卓也小屋的房型有數種，其中最特別也最搶手的，就是模擬傳統農村放稻穀的穀倉房。不過，這圓潤可愛的穀倉房僅有二間，假日要提早訂房才有機會可以入住。

There are several types of rooms offered. The most special and popular room is the simulated traditional rice barn. However, there are only 2 rice barns, so the early reservation is needed to be able to book a room.

這回到卓也小屋的重點是染布體驗DIY，趁著解說老師還沒來，我在染布教室裡走動，欣賞各式天然染布作品。

The highlight of this trip is to make DIY cloth dyeing. I was strolling around the classroom and watching the products before the instructor arrived.

老師拿出了一疊各種顏色的染布，有橘紅、紫色、紫紅色、草黃色及橄欖綠等等這些是利用自然界的礦物及動植物，如硃砂、馬藍、薯榔及洋蔥皮等所染出來的，每一種顏色所呈現出來的質感都不同，各有各的味道。

今天要體驗的是經過高溫熬煮步驟的熱染，特別的是，所用的染材並不是植物而是一種存在於龍眼、荔枝或桑樹上的害蟲「紫膠蟲」。

Instructor showed us different colors of the dyed cloth, such as, red-orange, purple, red-purple, green-yellow, and olive green. They were all dyed from the natural minerals,flora and fauna, such as cinnabar, strobilanthes,potatoes, and onions, etc. The textures of the dyed cloth are different with different colors.

We experienced the high temperature boiling dying process. The dye material is not from the plant, is from the pests that live in the longan, litchi or mulberry called “Lac Inset”

老師詳細示範如何用竹筷、冰棒棍及橡皮筋，變化出魚鱗、幸運草、星星及愛心等各式各樣圖紋後，發給每人一條棉布與工具，剩下的就是學生發揮創意的時間了。

The instructor demonstrated how to use chopsticks, popsicle stick, and rubber band to create scale, clover, stars, and heart shape patterns. She passed a piece of cloth and tools to each of us and then we were on our own with creation.

老師講解的很仔細，大家也都好像有聽懂，不過真正動手時，卻把老師教的忘的一乾而淨，到底是要先這樣捲，還是那樣摺，而橡皮筋又該如何綁才是……最後，管它什麼形狀，就是隨興亂亂紮吧！紮好後，綁上號碼條，第一階段就算完成了！所有綁紮好的棉布，在熱煮前要先充份浸濕。

We thought we understood what instructor said; however, we were totally lost when we started. How to roll, fold and tie? Well, who cares the patterns; we just created our own patterns. After it was tied, the number tag was also attached and then the first process was completed. Let the cloth completely soaked before it was boiled.

浸濕後的棉布，再放入煮鍋中進行染煮的程序。

The soaked cotton cloth was put in a pot to boil and dye.

染煮的時間大約是二十分鐘，煮好後還要漂洗二至三回，然後老師將每個人的棉布一一發還，拿到棉布的人，無不迫不及待的打開來。

The boiling time was about 20 minutes. It needed to be washed 2-3 times after the boiling process. Instructor gave us back our own cloth. We could not wait to open it.

Photo by Box

拆染布像是打開一份神秘禮物一樣，大家既興奮又期待的，急著想看看自己剛才瞎綁的結果，到底會變成什麼模樣。哇～哇～驚叫與驚笑聲四起，雖然是隨便亂紮，但亂紮也有亂紮的美感，每個人的作品都很好看，而且都是獨一無二的，大家開心的拍照合影，為今天的染布體驗留下美好的回憶。

We felt like opening a surprise gift when we unfolded the cloth. We were so excited to see each other’s product. We screamed and laughed! Although we did not follow the patterns, they all turned out very nice. Each one of them is unique and different. We took a group picture which left us such a great memory.

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