Dyeing - Experimental Natural Dyes On Yarn
Spend the day with Kate James of Valley Maker leaning how to mordant yarn before trying various techniques to dye the skeins using natural dye extracts. In this class experimentation will be encouraged as trial and error is considered a crucial part of the learning experience. It will be a playful workshop, especially suited to knitters who want to create their own unique yarns.
Teacher: Kate James
Workshop Duration: Full day
Description: Kate will begin by introducing natural dyeing to the class. There will be plenty of examples and samples to get everyone talking whilst they prepare their skeins. Kate will guide you through the steps involved in pre-mordanting their yarn (this is usually not done in a botanical dyeing class due to time constraints). Whilst our pots are heating on the burners Kate will discuss the various techniques you can try including gradient dyeing, dip dyeing, hand painting, and speckled or variegated dyeing. Usually created using acid dyes, Kate will show that these processes can work just as well without the use of any chemicals. An example of each process will be demonstrated to show how to achieve various effects.
In the afternoon, the skeins will be removed from the mordant pot ready for you to begin dyeing. This part of the workshop will be led more by you the participants as you prepare your chosen colours and start playing. The morning will be relaxed with plenty of opportunity to ask questions, experiment and have fun with new techniques.
Materials: A materials fee of $15 will cover the use of all dye extracts, squeezy bottles, gladwrap, gloves, trays, pots, etc.
Participants will need to bring 300g of woollen yarn preferably in 6 x 50g skeins (as opposed to balls). The yarn must be a protein fibre (eg. wool or alpaca). It must NOT be cotton, bamboo or a blend, or any synthetic fibre as these will not work for this workshop.
Kate recommends purchasing wool that is not too precious or pricey as you will be experimenting and need to feel relaxed about trying new things out.
Takeaway: This class is focused on technique and will enable the participant to go home with the confidence and ability to make their own multi-coloured yarns. A class booklet will be provided.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: none
So I wrote last week a post asking “Is my making fast fashion?”. And then I did a video on Instagram discussing similar topics in a slightly different way. And as always, you lovely humans have helped me clarify some of my thinking with your thoughtful, clever commentary.
And while I think there is so much more to discuss, here are four key possibly-more-meta ideas that have come up for me out of those conversations.
In using the quote last week that suggested that there was no single answer, and suggesting that this was freeing, I really did mean that we should sit in the grey. Not that the lack of “an” answer to this question should mean we get to ignore the question but rather that the lack of “an” answer means that we need to keep asking bigger more beautiful questions. And keep asking them.
Is my making fast fashion?
Am I living my values or merely thinking them?
And how can I make those two things a little more aligned in this moment?
These are my big beautiful questions.
Yours might be different.
And importantly this leads to point 2.