WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOPS

With a focus on appreciating the slow nature of working with natural plant materials, Jenns natural dye workshops are relaxed, practical hands on days that enable participants to explore & create beautiful colours using natural environmentally sustainable materials & practices.

Jenns natural dye workshops are held at the fibreworkshop where participants can explore the gardens & local countryside, harvesting materials & finding inspiration.

“It gives me joy sharing this knowledge. It is important to pass these traditional skills on, keeping them vibrant, alive & just as relevant today as they were in the past.”

Jenn is available to teach at your craft club, event or schools and colleges – contact Jenn for more information.

2024 workshop programme is now live!

About the workshop programme.

I run three workshops. An Introduction to natural plant dyes for the beginner or early dabbler. Madder: one dye many colours, a day working with the one dye pot and exploring mordants and modifiers to produce a range of shades. And, Indigo from Woad, a day spent learning all about growing and extracting indigo and other colours rom our native indigo bearing plant.

If you would like to go on the mailing list to get information on 2024 dates please contact me.

Introduction to natural dyes

Aimed at the beginner & enthusiast.   In this one-day workshop you will learn how to colour wool & other textiles with the colours hidden in plant materials.

Working with a range of classic dyestuffs, including madder, weld & indigo, we will cover the basics in natural plant dyeing techniques: preparing fibre; mordants; sourcing dyestuffs; preparing dye baths; & using modifiers to create a beautiful rainbow of colours naturally & sustainably.  Working through the process step by step Jenn will demystify the process & give you a firm foundation in the art of natural dyeing.

Includes all materials, notes & samples made in class to take away.

Includes tea, coffee & cake & a light lunch

This workshop is held at the fibreworkshop in Elsing, Norfolk.

Time: 10am – 4pm

Class sizes are limited to 5 participants.  Book early to avoid disappointment

Madder: one dye pot many colours

In this one-day workshop you will be working with Madder Rubia tinctorum.  

Aimed at both the complete novice and those with some experience. Taking a deeper look into mordants and modifiers, you will be exploring how to create a pallete of colours and hues from just a single dye pot. Corals, pinks, oranges, reds and purples.

Working with just the one dye pot we will cover the basics in natural plant dyeing techniques: preparing fibre; mordants; growing and sourcing madder; preparing the dye bath; & using modifiers to create a beautiful palette of colours naturally & sustainably.  Working through the process step by step Jenn will demystify the process & give you a firm foundation in the art of natural dyeing and dyeing with madder.

Includes tea, coffee & cake & a light lunch

This workshop is held at the fibreworkshop in Elsing, Norfolk.

Time: 10am – 4pm

Class sizes are limited to 5 participants.  Book early to avoid disappointment

Indigo: from Woad to Indigo

A full-days workshop learning about growing and extracting indigo from our native source of indigo, Woad, Isatis tinctoria, and, new for this year, Japanese indigo, Periscaria tinctoria.

Aimed at all skill levels from beginner to the experienced dyer.  In this one-day workshop you will learn how to grow, harvest, extract indigo from freshly harvested leaf. We will be visiting Jenns woad beds where you will see the plants growing.  You will be harvesting these and processing them to extract indigo and make dye vats.  In the afternoon you will be dipping and dyeing yarns and other textile samples that you will take away with you.  You will also learn how to extract and store indigo for later.

Includes all materials, notes & samples made in class to take away. You will also receive a packet of woad seeds for you to take away to continue your own woad adventure.

Includes tea, coffee, cake & a light lunch

This workshop is held at the workshop in Esing, Norfolk.

Time: 10am – 4pm

Class sizes are limited to 5 participants.  Book early to avoid disappointment

Some words from previous participants:

We had a great time and are well impressed with what can be done with natural dyes. 
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us and for all the yummy treats
! Amelia

Thank you Jenn for your hospitality and generosity. A wonderful day. Maureen

A big thank you to you for giving us such a lovely and interesting (and tasty!) day. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and spoke about it all the way home. Jana

 I loved the relaxed atmosphere and I’m so excited to have my rainbow that I think I will be just looking at it for a while! Fiona