Introduction to Natural Dyes

Before synthetic dyes humans used plants, animals, and minerals to color everything. Come learn the ancient art of natural dyes and discover the secrets and gifts of plant color. Color lives in everyday life; find pink inside your lunchtime avocado pit; see yellow in the papery onion husks that line the supermarket bins; call forth oranges and reds from the roadside eucalyptus. In this overview, we will cover the basics of the process such as plant collection, mordanting, fiber choices, extraction and dyeing methods, shibori techniques, ways to shift color after dyeing and how to care for naturally dyed cloth. You will use natural dyes to create designs on four linen napkins to take home for your enjoyment or to give as beautifully handcrafted gifts.

Instructor is Anna Meier, Natural Dyer.