Dyeing Classes
All dyeing classes will be held at the Fairgrounds.
Naturally Dyeing with Siobhan Booth
All levels
There is something magical about extracting color from plants, but the process can be a bit mysterious for people who have never worked through it. In this class you will learn the necessary steps of how to prepare your yarn for dyeing, you will mordant one skein of yarn, and then you will dye another skein of pre-mordanted yarn provided by the instructor. From a selection of flowers, you will choose your favorites, and layer your own mason jar to create a tonal, solar dyed skein of yarn. We’ll learn about what makes a good dye plant and the chemicals and processes to create natural dyes. One skein of yarn, jar, dye materials, and mordant to be provided.
Friday morning - $60.00 plus $20.00 Materials fee
Low Water Immersion Dying: Easy, Fast, And Fabulous with Jessica Kauffman
Beginner and beyond
Low water immersion dyeing creates gorgeous crystalline patterns on fabric, without you having to do anything difficult or fancy! Learn how to create a liquid dye bath with fiber reactive dyes and activate it with soda ash, then plunge in your fabrics, and with this instructor’s tried and true methods, allow the dye-bath to do the work for you. What emerges the next day is always a wonder and a surprise. Folks will think you’re way more advanced than they need know! This method works on anything made from a cellulose (plant) fiber, and is great at covering stains. You do not need to start with something white! We can over-dye just about any light or medium tones. Nothing too large or heavyweight, please— think t-shirts, aprons, pillowcases, short window curtains, etc. Cotton/linen yarns work well. Wovens and knits are welcome, and both make great patterns!
Saturday afternoon - $60.00 plus $20.00 materials fee
Incredible Ice Dyeing with Jessica Kauffman
Beginner and beyond
The magic of ice dyeing is available to all, even beginners! Great if you have no dye experience or plenty. We’ll be working exclusively with fiber reactive dyes on cellulosic (plant) fibers. Dye clothing, home linens, yarn or fiber with these accessible, incredible methods. We will use real ice cubes to help the dyes “split” and create deep, varied, watercolor-like results that will stay colorfast and wash-proof for years to come.
Saturday morning - $60.00 plus $30.00 Materials fee
Sock Blank Eco Printing with Siobhan Booth
All levels
Eco printing is a natural dye process where flowers, leaves, and other bits of plants are used to leave shapes and marks on fabric. The plant materials are arranged on the fabric, which is then rolled into a bundle and steamed. Dyes contained within the plants transfer to the fabric creating vibrant and often unexpected results. In this class, you will be using white knitted sock blanks, which you can then unravel at home to knit, weave or crochet. Eco dyeing is always an adventure, but your adventure will continue at home when you use your unique yarn to create a special item.
Friday afternoon - $60.00 plus $25.00 materials fee
SIOBHAN BOOTH is committed to sustainable living at her home near Floyd in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. She collects local flora, scraps from her garden, and even weeds to use for her naturally dyed yarns. There is a kind of magic that happens when color is extracted from natural materials and transferred to yarn. The resulting yarns can have colors that are vibrant or subtle, but there is always a certain element of pleasant surprise at the end of the process.
JESSICA KAUFMAN has her Masters degree in Crafts Education, and has been leading hands-on arts programming at schools, summer camps, and workshops for 16 years. In 2016 she opened Waxon Studio, an open batik & tie-dye studio in Asheville. Jessica continues to teach traditional and contemporary crafts skills around the region, with a focus on textiles & fiber arts. Her patience, kindness, and love for teaching guide her classes to success.