Natural Dyes: Patterns & Prints (five sessions)
Adult Class | FULL
Join natural dyer and textile artist, Laura Hricko, for an exciting exploration into the art of creating vibrant patterns and prints on fabric using natural dyes. You will learn a variety of surface design techniques using stamps, stencils, and brushes in combination with an array of natural dye sources and mordant pastes. Laura will guide you through the process of extracting dye from plants and food waste for immersion dyeing. Bundle dyeing, a waterwise method for directly applying natural dyes onto fabric, will also be covered. Gain a comprehensive understanding of natural dyeing techniques and their applications in surface design and discover the endless possibilities for creating dynamic works of art on fabric with natural dyes.
All levels of experience are welcome. This class is perfect for beginners and experienced dyers interested in exploring the beauty and versatility of natural dyes in textile surface design. You will leave class having created a variety of patterned textiles with natural dyes. You will also transform a shirt, baby onesie, tea towel, or other cotton item of your choosing from start to finish using one of the introduced natural dye techniques.
What you will learn:
1. How to properly scour fabrics prior to pretreating with mordants.
2. The selection and application of different types of mordants based on the fiber and dye processes you want to use.
3. Immersion dyeing and bundle dyeing with natural dyes.
4. Stamping, stenciling, and painting with mordant pastes to create multi-colored prints from the same dye bath.
For 1st class:
• 2 yards of white 100% cotton fabric like this. You are welcome to purchase elsewhere, but the fabric must be 100% cotton.
• 1 white 100% cotton item from home for dyeing, no larger than a t-shirt (t-shirt, bandana, baby onesie, tea towel).
• Dust Mask (KN95 or similar)
• Dishwashing Gloves
• Scissors
• Notebook
• Ballpoint Pen
After 3rd Class:
• 3 small tupperware containers, solo cups, or other plastic disposable containers
• A stainless steel mixing bowl that can be dedicated to natural dyes like this
• Variety of brushes
• Other items to create textures through stamping (will be discussed in prior classes)
• Yellow onion skins, leaves, or other accessible natural dye materials (will be discussed in prior classes)
Optional:
• Basswood to carve a block/stamp
• Xacto knife and blades
• Stencils (handmade or purchased)
Laura Hricko
Laura Hricko is an artist, educator, and lifelong Philadelphian dedicated to the conviction that art is transformative and capable of enriching the lives of all people. Laura’s artistic practice involves various fiber arts techniques including sewing, quilting, embroidery, and textile surface design. Most recently, Laura has been captivated by the processes of natural dyeing, which allow her to feel a deeper connection with nature and history, as she employs these ancient craft techniques to coax color from homegrown, foraged, and food-waste natural dye sources.