Session 2. Recording, Resources, and Tasks

Here are the recordings of the first session (cut in to two by the breakout group):

Part 1 & Part 2

Tasks:

Task 1: Decide what 3-5 plants you would like to first try dyeing with. You might be purchasing dye stuff from specialist dye suppliers, saving food waste, or sourcing plants by foraging or garden plants.

You can work with any plants you are drawn to, however here are some easily accessible plants I recommend that will give you a range of colours:

Red: Madder root - you will need to buy this unless you have a three year old madder plant to harvest from.

Yellow: Buddleia flowers - These will be abundant to forage in the UK from May. Dyer’s weld - Commonly available from dye suppliers. Willlow bark - Willow tree branches can harvested this month. Willow is a vigorous tree that regenerates quickly so it is sustainable to harvest willow branches for dye. Cut the branches with secateurs, loppers, or a pruning saw, and then strip the bark with a knife. I will make a little video showing this process.

Orange: Yellow Onion skins

Pink: Avocado skins and pips

Blue: Indigo - We use a different dyeing process for indigo, so wait until the indigo session..

Through over-dyeing with indigo, and modifying with Ph shifters and iron, you will be able to expand your spectrum further. It is worth dyeing extra samples with other colours to test expanding your colour spectrum.

Task 2: Look through the Dye Resources

  • Prepare your space, gather the materials and equipment you need.

  • Have a go if you are feeling confident. You are aiming for 3-5 pieces of fabric to be dyed with different plants. These can be as big as you would like. I would say at least a4 sized pieces so you have enough to cut up for modifying. If you have bigger pieces dyed, these will be useful for printing on with modifiers in the printmaking module.

Ongoing Tasks:

  • Growing, propagating, planting throughout the spring. I keep planting until midsummer.

  • Mordanting fabric if you have not done so yet.

There has been a lot of interest within the group on printmaking. Responding to this, I have made the printmaking resources available in the resources. I will also make the ink and paint making resources available this week. So those who want to focus on this part of the course can make a start. There is a dedicated printmaking channel on Discord for printmaking chat.

Next session: Session 3 - Fabric Dyes - Extraction, colour, modifiers. May 23rd 4-6pm BST

Topics:

  • Extracting dye from different kinds of plants

  • Using dye extracts

  • The most effective ways of making particular colours

  • Modifying and over-dyeing

  • Space for general discussion/sharing/chat/questions

Notes:

Best wishes,

Flora