Creating with Natural Dyes

Explore the process of natural dyeing with locally grown plants to create a range of colors on cotton and linen, led by our corridor artist, Sayde Anderson. Some materials will be provided and you can add to the fun by bringing your own textiles!
Adult Programming

Jun 13, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

SCA Studio
$65
$65

About The Program

$65

About the Class

Explore the process of natural dyeing with plant fibers led by fiber artist Sayde Anderson. Work with locally grown plants to create dyes in a range of colors to use on cotton and linen. This is a sustainable practice that is perfect for quilters, knitters, weavers, garment makers, and anyone interested in deepening their relationship with the natural world through crafting. Throughout the two and a half hours together, we will dive into how to prepare your fabric for natural dye, extract color from plants, and cure your fiber for a colorfast life. We will work with different methods of natural dyeing such as eco-printing and shibori.

What to bring and what to expect:

Each participant will be provided with different textiles to dye – one canvas tote bag, scraps of linen, and two tea towels. You are welcome to bring one or two items from home that are 100% cotton or linen to prepare for the dye pots. You will have lots of options for how you want to dye your items! Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy or stained. Bring your lessons home with a booklet to translate what you learned in the workshop for everyday life!

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Sayde Anderson

Sayde Laine Anderson is a fiber artist, community builder, and maker working across disciplines to explore environmental and social issues through traditional craft techniques based in Durham, North Carolina. Her work is inspired by rethinking the relationship between art, sustainability, and the land. 

She has been experimenting with natural dyes for the past six years and continues to find herself eager to explore the intersection of natural materials and plant color. The curiosity and wonder of her childhood continue to ground her practice. She enjoys exploring forests and fields where she lives in Durham, North Carolina, curious to see what plants or natural materials can extract a colorfast dye. Sayde forages for and grows dye plants in her neighborhood and partners with a local flower farm. Throughout this process, she often uses whole plants rather than extracts, so she has grown to understand the seasonal availability, growth cycles, and color potential of plants native to North Carolina. This knowledge allows her to develop color palettes specific to the seasons of the year and enables her to connect with the cycle of seasonal ecologies—both of which are foundational to her body of work. 

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