Join us at the beautiful Fibershed Learning Center on Black Mountain Ranch near Point Reyes Station, CA, where we will create a dynamic natural color story with 5-7 natural dyes from plants that are easily sourced/foraged from our local landscape.

Also included will be cochineal, a historically significant dye extracted from an insect that lives on Opuntia cacti. Although cochineal is not generally found in our landscape (though it has reportedly been found in Oakland), it’s such a bright, beautiful color that feels so much like summer, the instructors wanted to include it.

In this class, you will learn: 

• How to mordant both protein and cellulose fibers.

• How to create color from leaves, bark, and flowers

• Ethical harvesting and processing of different plants

• Seasonal plants and the colors they make

• How to modify colors to create a wider color palette 

• How to dye with substantive, tannin-rich plants that don’t require the use of mordants

Special note: Some of the dye vats will already be made because they require more than one day to extract color. 

Materials included: fabric swatches, thread and yarn — both cellulose and protein fibers

Please bring: personal snacks, lunch and beverages (a selection of teas will be served). Also bring containers to hold any wet fabric or fiber that isn’t dry by the end of the workshop.

Optional: Bring your own fabric, thread, and/or yarn to dye. Fabric pieces should be no larger than 18” x 18.” You may dye your fabric, thread, and/or yarn once everyone has dyed their class materials. You are welcome to bring containers to take home leftover dye, if available.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: When you enroll in this workshop, you will receive a $40 discount code that can be applied to the cost of the workshop Mending Techniques with Heidi Iverson & Allison Reilly on July 16th.