Explore the World of Natural (Local) Dyes in a Fiber Color Workshop this January

Spend the day on January 25th, 2014 (10 am to 4 pm) at the Valley Ford Wool Mill exploring the world of natural dyes, both wild and cultivated locally. In this hands-on workshop you will learn how to dye with a variety of leaves, petals, hulls, fungi and roots, giving you an introduction to some of the many sources of natural dye pigment.

Also learn how to prepare wool and silk fibers to best receive the dyes using mordants, which are minerals that increase the intensity of color and colorfastness. Students will take home samples of dyed wool yarn and silk fabric. Materials and catered lunch included.

Instructor: Dustin Kahn is an avid gardener and natural dye enthusiast. She has studied mushroom dyes with Dorothy Beebee of Sonoma County Mycological Association (SOMA) and plant dyes with Rebecca Burgess of Fibershed, as well as spending many hours experimenting with natural dyes on her own. She has taught mushroom dye classes for both SOMA and Fibershed. When she’s not in the garden tending her dye plants or the in woods searching for dye mushrooms, Dustin is the graphic designer and administrator for Fibershed. Visit her blog about natural dyes here.

To register: contact Ariana Strozzi at Ariana@ValleyFordWoolMill.com or call Kathleen McCauley at 707-287-0546.  $125 incl. materials & catered lunch