Designed for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, this workshop is an exciting exploration into the art of creating dynamic patterns and prints on fabric using natural dyes. We’ll cover a variety of surface design techniques using stamps, stencils, and brushes in combination with an array of natural dye sources, modifiers, pre-treatment processes, and mordant pastes. We’ll extract dye baths from locally grown plants, food waste, and traditional historic dyes, and use shibori resist techniques, immersion dyeing, and bundle dyeing to create vibrant colors and intricate patterns on cloth. Gain a comprehensive understanding of natural dyeing techniques and their applications in textile surface design and discover the endless possibilities for creating works of art on fabric with natural materials.
All levels of experience are welcome. You’ll leave class with a set of patterned textiles created using natural dyes, as well as a finished cotton or linen item of your choice - such as a shirt, baby onesie, or tea towel - transformed from start to finish using one or more of the techniques introduced in class.
What You Will Learn:
- How to properly scour fabrics prior to pretreating with mordants.
- Methods for creating handmade patterns, including designing and cutting stencils.
- The selection and application of mordants based on the fiber and dye processes you want to use.
- Immersion dyeing and bundle dyeing with natural dyes.
- Using soy milk binder and shibori resist techniques for creating patterns on fabric.
- Stamping, stenciling, and painting with mordant pastes to create multi-colored prints from the same dye bath.
- Methods for shifting colors and creating prints using iron and pH modifiers.
Who This Class Is For:
Beginners and experienced crafters interested in exploring natural dyes and creating patterned textiles. Questions about whether this class is right for you? Email adulteducation@fleisher.org.