Join Kayleigh for this brand new 6 week natural dye course to be delivered here at Globe Arts - over the course of the growing season. The sessions will be accessible and suitable for participants to come to as many as they feel without the obligation of coming to every session. (You must however do the 1st one, in addition to any extras, just so you have the complete understanding of tools, techniques and language used throughout)

The sessions will follow the growing schedule of seasonally available plants.

Each session lasts 3 hours on Thursday evenings, to cover all there is to know about growing, foraging and dyeing with plant-based pigments.

 The course contents will be broken down as follows:

 ·      Week one: Preparing fabrics for natural dyeing

A hands-on introduction to creating successful prints. Natural dyes will not work without correctly prepared fabrics. This session will cover selecting fabrics, scouring and mordanting.

·      Week two: Natural Dye basics

Learn how to turn plants into pigments. This hands-on session will cover how to create a successful dye bath using dye plants and food waste. Using cotton, we will cover basic dye techniques such as dip dyeing and tie-dyeing.

 ·      Week three: Growing natural dyes

Natural dyes can be grown at home! Learn about planning and growing a dye garden with a session at Globe Arts. Learn which plants will be suitable, growing schedules, and how to harvest, dry and store dyes for year-round use. This session will involve drawing dye plants as we design our own dye gardens using mixed materials. You will also be given a helpful garden planning sheet to take home.

 ·      Week four: Bundle Dyeing and Hapa Zome

Create your own designs on fabric by learning the popular technique of bundle dyeing. Learn how to steam plants into cloth to create beautiful pieces. Whilst the bundles are in the pot, we will explore Hapa Zome – the art of hammering plants into cloth. Learn which plants are suitable and top tips to create crisp prints.

 ·      Week five: Foraging for natural dyes

Explore found natural dyes on a relaxing foraging walk around Globe’s surrounding green areas. Learn which local plants are safe to forage and how to do so responsibly to create beautiful textiles. We will then create a dye bath using foraged dyes.

 ·      Week six: Upcycle your wardrobe

This sustainable session encourages people to bring something made of white cotton or silk, e.g. a t-shirt, shorts, or a pillowcase. They will learn how to scour, mordant and dye their item using natural dyes to breathe new life into it!