Natural Dyeing Workshop

Join dye expert Debbie Tomkies, as she shows you how to create beautiful colours from plants using simple techniques you can repeat at home. This full day workshop is suitable for complete beginners. If you have done some natural dyeing previously, there is plenty to explore too!

What you will learn on the day:

After a short introduction to natural dyeing, including an explanation of where the dyes come from, we’ll be creating a fabulous set of samples, taking you through the colours of the rainbow. With your samples you’ll be able to recreate a huge range of colours, all from natural dyes.

Next, you’ll dye a 50g ball of lovely wool yarn which you can knit or crochet into a small project.

After lunch Debbie will be showing you some fun natural dyeing techniques – from solid colour (immersion) dyeing, gradients, dip-dye, speckling, handpainting and more.

You can then choose another 100g of undyed yarn to dye using your choice of techniques.

Debbie will also include a pattern from her own design collection for you to take away so you’ll have a project to take home and make right away!

All materials included.

Suitable for ages 14+. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

PLEASE NOTE – This might get messy, so don’t wear your favourite pair of white jeans!

Please bring a packed lunch or visit one of the many cafes or sandwich shops in Farsley.

About Debbie

Debbie Tomkies is a textile designer, hand-dyer, author and tutor. An expert hand-dyer, she works with natural and synthetic dyes on both yarn and fabric and has a particular interest in researching dyes in the 1800-1900’s.

Debbie has 3 books and over 100 articles published in major magazines.

Debbie runs Making Futures a social enterprise that aims to build confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem through creative activity. Making Futures works with community groups, schools, colleges and third sector organisations to deliver a wide range of workshops and classes.

Course terms and booking conditions

Workshop and course bookings can be cancelled and refunded up until 7 days before the scheduled start date. As materials and equipment are ordered in advance, we regret that refunds cannot be offered less than 7 days before the workshop date. Please note that Eventbrite’s booking fee is non-refundable.

If we need to cancel the course for any reason your ticket will be fully refunded.

Accessibility

This workshop will be held in the Spinning Mill Studios which are accessed by two flights of stairs or a wheelchair accessible lift. If you are likely to need lift access, please let us know on your booking form so that we can offer assistance on the day. There are wheelchair accessible toilets within the Spinning Mill building.

This event is part of a series of workshops and talks taking place during Sunny Bank Mills’ Threads Textile Festival. Visit our Threads Website to see what else is happening across the weekend!

Book more workshop tickets directly through Eventbrite by visiting our Threads Collection.