It’s been a couple of weeks since we sat down and talked about anything to do with the fibre arts, and I want to catch you up on all that I’ve been doing this summer. It’s been 10 weeks now working through the Natural Dyeing Study Group at the School of SweetGeorgia, and so on today’s vlog, I want to share what we’ve been natural dyeing, and the unexpected lessons I learned from all of that.
I think there’s a bit of a lesson that comes with natural dyeing; of looking at things in the moment. To enjoy that feeling of looking at the colour in the pot, knowing it may change and become something different once it’s dyed and dried, and that will be okay. To just go with where it leads you and enjoy every moment along the way.
If you are at all interested in learning about natural dyeing, I encourage you to pop into the school and check out the study group – it will continue to be open with the week-by-week instructions, along with people having discussions as they continue to dye.
And if you are interested in learning how to improve your spinning, then I hope you join us for our autumn Spinning Study Group! We have a promotion going on at the School right now – check it all out at: www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com.
IN THIS EPISODE
- what I mention in today’s video: Here are links to items I talk about in today’s vlog…
- School of SweetGeorgia (SOS) dyeing courses I mention in the vlog are: Dyeing Intentional Colour (working with acid dyes), Fundamentals of Fibre Reactive Dyes and Natural Dyeing Basics.
- We worked together with local artist and dyer Caitlin ffrench who taught both the Natural Dyeing Basics course plus the new Plant a Natural Garden workshop about growing your own natural dye garden and wildcrafting natural dye material. We also had two classes presented by Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors – Handpainting with Natural Dyes and Indigo Dyeing.
- In the School of SweetGeorgia July Live Office Hours, I share more details about all that I dyed as part of the Natural Dyeing Study Group.
- For the linen fabric that I dyed in cochineal and logwood, the pattern I planned on making is the Emerald Dress from Made by Rae. The linen/cotton blend yardage was dyed in Botanical Colors Premium Lac Extract. This is destined to become a spinning apron.
- At the studio, we also tried some shibori techniques in the indigo vats. I used an arashi shibori technique where you fold the fabric and wrap it around a pole. You can learn more about these dyeing techniques at the Shibori Dyeing Basics course, taught by Mariana Frochtengarten.
- want to learn more about natural dyeing and the fibre arts? I welcome you to come visit all of the different levels of fibre arts classes available at the School of SweetGeorgia. Right now, as part of our Back to School special, you can save 15% off our quarterly and annual memberships – learn more at our sign-up page!
