Bamboo dyed with marigold, ecoprinted with an iron blanket
Creating Natural Colour for Cloth
October 18 - 27, 2024
Introduction
Creating Natural Colour for Cloth explores creating marks and colour on cloth using natural materials. It’s a slow and exciting process that encourages us to see the world around us with new eyes. To help us enter into a relaxing rhythm, we also savour all that Italy has to offer; food, wine, and natural beauty.
Techniques taught
Core techniques include eco printing, natural dyeing, shibori stitching, and printmaking. Through hands on workshops, students discover how mordants, tannins, and ph (through dips, baths, and blankets) affect colour both in eco printing and in natural dyeing. Students learn to use windfall and gathered botanicals, natural dye materials and extracts, and earth pigments to layer colour on cotton, bamboo, and silk. Shibori stitching and printmaking round out the possible techniques for making exciting natural colour on cloth.
Teaching method
Linen dyed with logwood, ecoprinted with an iron blanket.
The retreat starts with structured workshops showcasing specific techniques to help students understand the variables involved when eco printing or natural dyeing. As the retreat progresses, students begin their own experimentation based on the information learned. Over the course of the 10 days, the process becomes iterative, each day a new workshop offers additional possibilities for the individual experimentation. Students go home with a) written instructions for replicating the work produced, b) dyed swatches created by themselves and their fellow students, c) a collection of beautiful unique cloth they’ve made using the techniques covered during the retreat.
Prerequisites
In this retreat, some previous experience with dyeing or making marks on cloth may be an advantage, but is not necessary.
Logistics
This retreat is a balance between learning about colouring cloth and enjoying the italian lifestyle. Alongside fibre workshops, there are cooking classes, a walk on the beach, lunch at the olive grove, wine tasting at a local cantina, and fireside chats. We eat together, italian family dining style.
The total cost of the 10 day retreat is 2400€
All meals and lodging are included. Lodging is in shared double room; single room on request at additional fee of 540€. Maximum 10 participants. Travel companions are welcome for all but the fibre workshops;
Availability
Waitlisted - email us to be added to the waitlist
