Natural dyeing

I keep having to remember to put the e into dyeing otherwise it takes on a whole new meaning...

It was a very enjoyable evening at The Maltings  learning about growing plants to make your own inks and dyes. The workshop lasted about two hours and we were given an introduction into what plants to grow and when, which bits to harvest and how and then the procedures for making the inks and dyes. We were also given a brief overview of different ways in which we could use the inks and dyes - contact dyeing/printing, bundle dyeing as well as the more conventional steeping techniques as well as thickening the inks for drawing. We also learned about modifiers - acids and alkalis that can alter the colour quite significantly. I was truly fascinated and the time went quickly.

I will definitely have a go sometime although the grow-your-own route is quite lengthy. The simplest seems to be tree bark and onion skins.Watch this space.  

The photograph includes the white board entries for the 11th of May. My workshop was just one small event in a sea of things for the good folks of Farnham to choose from. We are lucky.