Designed for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, this four-week workshop will take you step-by-step through the fundamentals of successfully coloring fabric using natural dyes. We’ll cover fiber sourcing, proper cleaning and scouring techniques, and best practices for pretreating fabric with tannins and mordants, all tailored to the specific natural dyes being used. We’ll extract dye baths from a variety of natural sources, including food waste, locally grown plants, and traditional historic dyes. Finally, we’ll use shibori resist techniques and dye modifiers, combined with immersion dyeing, to create vibrant colors and intricate patterns on cloth. Gain a comprehensive understanding of natural dyeing techniques and develop a newfound appreciation for the magic and beauty of natural dyes.

This workshop is open to all experience levels. By the end of the class, you’ll have created a variety of naturally dyed cotton fabrics. Additionally, you’ll transform a cotton item of your choice—such as a shirt, baby onesie, or tea towel—from start to finish using natural dyes.

What you will learn:
1. An overview of the history, science, and evolution of natural dyeing.
2. Insight into essential supplies and equipment for natural dyeing.
3. How to source and properly clean cellulose fabrics prior to treating with mordants.
4. The selection and application of different types of tannins and mordants based on the fiber and dye processes being used.
5. How to successfully process and extract a dye bath from various plant-based and food-waste dyes.
6. Immersion dyeing with resist techniques for creating saturated colors and designs on fabric.
7. Methods for shifting colors using iron modifiers.

Please note this class will not meet on April 8.