Our group has been collaborating with a local dyer based in Hitchin, who grows his own plants and harvests them for their dye pigments. Ashley Walker of Natures Rainbow has provided natural dye materials for our workshops and accompanied the group on a recent foraging walk – where we discussed the colours that can be found in our local landscapes. In part 2 of our planned natural dye workshop, we will be extracting the pigment from dried Madder root – to produce Orange & Red shades and Freshly harvested coreopsis flowers to achieve golden yellow tones.
Many of the Textile enthusiasts that attend’ TIG’ – Textile Arts Group are also keen gardeners or appreciators of nature. I would like to propose a new group that combines practical gardening and learning about growing special plants that are known for producing excellent pigments for dyeing fabrics with seasonal dyeing workshops. If this may be of interest to you and you would like to find out more please drop me an email at: textileart@lalg.org.uk and I’ll keep you in the loop about our planned activities.
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