Natural Dyeing

Spend the weekend dabbling, experimenting and gaining confidence with some easy natural dyeing techniques. Using a variety of natural fabrics such as wool, silk, cotton, linen and viscose, you will be amazed at the affects that can be achieved with simple methods and basic equipment. You will produce a range of samples for use in your work or as useful reference resource for the future and might never want to dye with synthetic dyes again!

Students requirements

Apron, rubber gloves and face mask (wear old clothes)

1 x 2 litre plastic mixing jug

2 x old jam jars with lids

Wooden stirring stick or old wooden spoon

Plastic sieve

1 large stainless - steel saucepan (at least 10 litres capacity)

1 portable electric hob, if you have an induction hob remember your saucepan must be compatible.

1 x shallow plastic tray (cat litter tray)

Kitchen Paper Roll

Ziplock bags to take wet fabric home

Strong polyester thread (we will prepare a few stitched shibori pieces too)

Hand Sewing kit

Rotary cutter, mat and rule

Note pad and Pen

Camera

A selection of small pieces (fat ¼ metre maximum) of 100 % natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, wool, viscose, silk, or mixed (such as silk/cotton, wool/viscose). You could also consider a small quantity of threads too.

My plan is for each person to dye one piece of fabric for each class member with one sort of dyestuff. Then everyone gets a piece of every colour. I have done this with other classes, and it works well, but please mark one corner of each of your fabric pieces with a permanent marker (fine sharpie) before you come to the class.

I will provide the dye materials, some will be fresh, others will be dried or extracts and the mordant (Alum) for some of the colours. Cost £15 per student

I will also bring some extra natural fabrics like fine wool and silk viscose mix, other fabrics can be bought from the Cowslip shop.