This summer, we are running a series of outdoor workshops at the Florence Trust starting on the 13th of July. On Tuesdays we have ‘Nature’s Palette‘, a 4 week comprehensive natural dyeing course and on Wednesdays we have our regular ‘Dyeing to Stitch‘ days with dyeing in the morning and stitching in the afternoon headed by the crew from Wolf & Wilding. The Wednesday Natural Dyeing drop-in session offers an informal morning where there will always be some indigo and an exhaust dye pot or two from Tuesday. These outdoor activities are a great way to develop your practice, in the wonderful calming surroundings of the Nomadic Dye Garden at the Florence Trust, St Saviours.
‘Nature’s Palette’, on Tuesdays, forms the foundations of a comprehensive natural dyeing course. We refer to Jenny Dean’s ‘Colours From Nature’ as our dyeing resource. The workshops will produce a portfolio of dyed samples in a range of fibres. The knowledge and technical skills gained will explore the beauty of Nature’s Palette, covering all natural dyeing groups. On completion, you will have the ability to be a competent natural dyeing practitioner and confidently pursue your own creative direction.
Included in the workshop package
– All dyeing resources
– A sample pack of yarns; wool, silk, cotton and linen for each workshop
– A sample pack of fabric swatches: silk, cotton and linen for each workshop
13th July 2021 10:30 – 16:00; An Introduction and Mordants & Modifiers.
20th July 2021 10:30 – 16:00; Substantive Dyes.
27th July 2021 10:30 – 16:00; Adjective Dyes.
3rd August 2021 10:30 – 16:00; Vat Dyes.
We operate ‘COVID Safe’ workshops teaching in our outdoor teaching space in the Dye Garden.
13th July – An Introduction and Mordants & Modifiers
This workshop provides the essential information required for best practice, the proper use and safe disposal of natural dyes, and the importance of mordants and modifiers in natural dyeing.
20th July – Substantive Dyes: YELLOW
Discover the beauty of nature’s palette using resources such as buckthorn bark, onion skins and rhubarb root. Substantive dyes, so called because the colour can be fixed without the need of another substance. This is the easiest type of natural dye to apply. Usually rich in tannin they can be used without the need of a mordant. We will prepare and dye samples of wool, silk, cotton and linen thread. These samples will be modified using acid, alkaline, copper and iron water.
27th July – Adjective Dyes: RED
Discover the beauty of nature’s palette using resources such as madder, sappanwood (brazilwood) and cochineal. Adjective or additive dyes must use a mordant (a substance that fixes a dye) to permanently bond with fibres and allow the colour to fully develop. We will prepare and dye samples of wool, silk, cotton and linen thread. These samples will be modified using acid, alkaline, copper and iron water.
3rd August – Vat Dyes: INDIGO
Discover the beauty of nature’s palette preparing an indigo dye vat. Vat dyes are a class of water insoluble dyes, such as indigo. Originated in medieval Europe, vat dyes were so named because of the vats used in the reduction of indigo plants through fermentation. We will prepare and dye samples of wool, silk, cotton and linen thread and explore various shibori techniques traditionally associated with an indigo vat.
IMPORTANT
Please wear suitable clothing and bring the following
– Apron or an old shirt
– Rubber gloves (marigold are suitable)
– Reusable strong plastic bag for wet samples
– Notebook and pen
We are 5mins away from Highbury Fields and Highbury Barn for lunch or bring a packed lunch with you. Unfortunately we cannot provide tea or coffee but we can provide hot water.
Images below are from the course run previously at Stepney City Farm.
Text and images © moderneccentrics
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