Natural Dyes

SKIPA is excited to once again host special guest, Eucalypt Australia 2022 Fellow Samorn Sanixay, who will introduce you to natural dyeing traditional methods used by weavers and textile artisans of Laos.

In this hands on workshop you will:

• Learn about local Australian eucalypts, native plants, berries and flowers and their dyeing properties
• Explore a variety of natural hand dyeing and colour applications; including multi-coloured dying, immersive dye baths and bundle dyeing to achieve prints.
• Learn traditional techniques to prepare, set, keep and store dyes for use out of season and best dyes for the different natural fibres
• Learn different fibre properties and origin of silk and Peace Silk

Eco printing, or botanical contact printing, is a contemporary adaptation of the ancient art of dyeing cloth with plants. The workshop will show you how to extend the palette of colours achievable from eco printing with Australian plants. You will learn to extract vibrant colours from flowers and leaves for dyes, print leaves to fabric, select mordents to fix and manipulate colours without the use of chemicals and identify plants from around the neighbourhood, the kitchen and the veggie patch that give colour.

By the end of the workshop the student will:

• Be able to use natural materials to create natural dyes
• Have experienced dyeing fabrics
• Have naturally dyed a silk scarf, fabric, calico bag
• Have used various techniques to produce a hand dyed scarf
• Have been able to explore experimental techniques for natural dye application of colour to fabric

Day 1: each technique is covered.

Day 2: the techniques are repeated using different materials. Participants have free time to practice with the assistance and further demonstration of Samorn, receiving one-on-one instruction to become more confident.

No previous design or printing experience required. This is a limited-capacity event for a small number of participants.

$280 for one day (includes all materials, morning tea and lunch)

$450 for Saturday and Sunday (includes all materials and morning tea and lunch)

Please contact us if you have dietary requirements.

Materials provided:

• Naturally dyed wool, silk, linen, hemp and cotton from Samorn’s personal collection.
• More than one metre square of fabric to start you off on your patchwork quilt.
• Dyes and Natural materials (berries, flowers & plants) and most equipment supplied.
• One handwoven scarf of your choice in hemp, silk or wool (this may depend of availability).

If you attend two days you will receive

• Two Scarves
• A silk pillowcase
• A calico bag
• Pieces of cotton, linen, silk and wool fabric to use in class
• A patchwork kit contains samples of dyed fabric in all natural fibres. Some cotton and wool thread for use during stitching sessions
• Undyed cushion cover

What you need to bring to class

• A note pad
• If possible something from your own garden or vegetable scraps (onion skin, wilting or dried flowers, green leaves and wood ash from fire if you have any. This is a natural modifier).
• Old clothes, sheets, pillowcases or any fabrics you want to upcycle or give new life to.
• Empty jars for solar dyeing project and storage of dyes
• A bag to transport the finished scarf and dyed goods home to dry
  If you have something you want to dye from home bring it along and we may have time at the end of class.

Please wear closed shoes and an apron or old clothes.

For more information, please contact Phil Docherty on 0427255516.

This event is proudly supported by the Society for Kimberley Indigenous Plants and Animals (SKIPA), Environs Kimberley, Lotteries House and Eucalypt Australia.