A COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE COURSE IN NATURAL DYEING
A step by step guide to understanding how to create beautiful naturally dyed textiles with consistent & long-lasting results.
Learn how to extract colour from plants & naturally dye fibre, fabric & textiles. This 8-week course covers everything you need to know to extract dye from plants and create beautiful long-lasting natural colours. With immediate access to videos, tutorials & downloads, this self-paced course can be accessed 24/7 when it suits you most.
HELLO + WELCOME
An introduction to Natural Dyeing & The Colourway was inspired by my love for the natural world & plant-based colour. I have created this course to help you understand & guide you through the processes involved in extracting dye from plants & successfully applying this to fibres, fabrics, textiles & garments.
Learning any new skill for the first time can be overwhelming & at times daunting so I have created this course with the beginner in mind.
Sharing the incredible beauty & magic of plant dyes with others is where my passion lives & I cannot wait to share the course with you. I hope you enjoy it!
x Kathryn
What does this course cover?
This self-paced 8-week workshop covers everything you need to know to understand the foundational skills in natural dyeing & successfully apply these skills. After completing this course you will be able to successfully prepare your fibres for dye, extract colour from plants & dye your fibres with safe, non-toxic natural plant colour.
- Over 34+ downloads of course material.
- Tools & equipment needed to get started.
- Understanding natural fibres and how to work with the different types of fibre.
- Video tutorials on scouring cellulose & animal fibres.
- Mordanting, what it is, which mordants to use & how to use them.
- Detailed instructions & video tutorials on how to successfully mordant natural fibres.
- Guides to sources of natural colour.
- Gathering & foraging natural dye plants.
- How to prepare your plants & create dye baths.
- How to dye natural fibres.
- How to modify your colours & expand your palette.
- How to work with iron.
- Creating an iron bath & other modifiers.
- Washing & aftercare.
- Ratios & weights.
- Keeping a dye journal
- Resources, suppliers & so much more.
Course Curriculum
Who is this course for?
Foraging for plants, extracting natural colours & dyeing fibres, textiles or garments is an incredibly rewarding & deeply satisfying process. The skills of natural dyeing can stand alone or lend themselves to many creative pursuits.
This course is for anyone:
- Interested in natural dyeing & not sure where to start.
- Thoes wanting to reconnect to the natural world through plants & natural colour.
- Interested in learning a new hobby or skill.
- Have you experienced past challenges with the process & need help or guidance?
- Would you like to learn how to naturally dye your clothes, fabric or fibres?
- Want to naturally dye safe, non-toxic naturally dyed products for your business.
- Are you confused with the information out there & want a clear & simple guide to follow.
- Are you a stylist or photographer wanting to dye your props or textiles.
- Are you interested in plants, colour, textiles or fibre?
- Are you a knitter or crafter wanting to expand your creative skills?
- Interested in textiles arts & want to incorporate naturally dyed fibres into your practice.
frequently asked...
What information will I find in this course?
The course is divided into 11 sections. An introduction to the course, Understanding fibre, Preparing fibre for dye, Mordanting, Gathering & preparing plants, Dyeing natural fibre, Modifying your colours & expanding your palette, Washing & aftercare, Ratios & weights, Dyeing with kitchen ingredients, and a bonus section with a downloadable natural dye journal, resources & helpful downloads.
When does this course start & finish?
The course begins & can be assessed as soon as you enrol. As this course is self-paced, you can move through the information on your schedule, moving through quickly or taking your time over a longer period.
How is the information presented?
The course is laid out in 11 main sections, with video/audio tutorials, text & downloadable guides. Each section has text & photos with the instructional aspects having video & text.
Will I need to purchase equipment to participate in this course?
To get started with the very basics of natural dyeing all you need is a dye pot, stove or hot plate, water, dye plants or kitchen waste, a wooden spoon, strainer & something to dye. Many tools and pieces of equipment can be purchased inexpensively or sourced from your kitchen. To continue with your journey & get the most from this course you will need to purchase a few different powdered ingredients which I list in the first section.
How long do I have access to the course?
I for one know how busy our lives can be especially when we have work, responsibilities or obligations that take us away from our hobbies, passions & interests. That is why I have made this course available for 12 months from the date of purchase.
I don't live in Europe, can I still take this course?
This foundational course was designed for those that cannot attend my in-person workshops & still want to learn about natural dyeing. The material in the course can be accessed from anywhere at a time that suits you best.
Can I access this course on my tablet, iPad or mobile phone?
Yes, this online course in natural dyeing is optimised for all devices as long as you have a internet connection, you can access it from anywhere.
Do you have any other ways for me to learn about natural dyeing?
You can join my monthly membership, The Colourway: A seasonal guide to natural plant colour where I share an in-depth look at seasonal plant colours. My new book, Natural Dyeing: Learn How to Create Colour & Dye Textiles Naturally guides you through the process of natural dyeing with recipes, guides & projects to develop your skills & build your confidence. I have a few tutorials on natural dyeing which you can find on my blog. You can follow me on Instagram @kathryn_davey or attend a workshop, details of which are regularly updated on my website kathryndavey.com.