Join Ros of The Natural Dyeworks for a morning of bundle dyeing & eco printing.
This workshop will explore the different craft processes of transferring plant imprints and textures directly onto fabric. Working primarily with silk, using both dried and fresh flowers gathered from the Walled garden we will experiment with different techniques including:
- Bundle dyeing with natural dye powder as well as with flowers and leaves (using the coil technique).
- Eco printing with a resist (pole technique), and Flower and leaf pounding (hapazome/tatakizome). An immersion dye bath will be on hand for adding background colour, should you wish.
This is a hands on workshop and you will leave with a number of different samples comprising of 2 (50cm x 50cm) silk squares, and 2 (10cm x 1m) silk ribbons. Participants are encouraged to embrace the unexpected to create beautiful echoes of Spring onto cloth.
This workshop is open to all levels of experience & you will learn the skills needed to continue your practice at home. I will cover the basics including how to select, clean & mordant your fibre as well as which plants give good results for eco printing. I will have plenty of samples on hand to show you.
All materials will be provided and there will be a worksheet for you to keep as well as all samples made during the workshop. Please bring an apron or wear old clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting marked.
The workshop is limited in place numbers to ensure a safe working environment.
About Natural Dyeworks
The Natural Dyeworks was founded by Ros, a natural dyer living in the Kent countryside.
Ros makes small batch, slow-crafted accessories and homewares using the alchemy of 100% plant-based dyes, which are natural and non-toxic.
Using natural fibres including linen, silk & wool, she crafts an ever-evolving palette of colours through the use of petals, leaves, bark, roots & seeds.
Nettles in spring for cool greens, coreopsis in summer for wild oranges, hollyhocks in autumn for soft blues, alder cones in winter. for burnished golds.
Ingredients are foraged in the Kent countryside, grown on her allotment or sourced from food waste/sustainable sources.
The process is 100% natural, slow and sustainable and care for the environment is at the heart of The Natural Dyeworks. Wastewater is reused on the garden and allotment, dye pulp is composted which in turn feeds our soil.
There will be refreshments served in the middle of the session so that we can get to know each other. Why not book lunch in our restaurant after your workshop. Click here to make a restaurant booking.
Cancellations of workshops
We are unable to offer refunds for our workshops. However, should you need to cancel a booking we will endeavour to sell your place via our database and social media. If successful, we will refund or offer an alternative course subject to availability. If you would like to transfer your ticket to a friend or family member, please advise us in writing.
