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We Love Learning - Working with Eco Dyes (Hannah)

By Anonymous
As many of you already know, I love making things, particularly involving fibre (a.k.a. fabric and wool). One of my goals for this year is to expand my skill set in this area by taking up as many learning opportunities as I can. When I saw rekindle was advertising a class on using natural dyes, I knew I was interested.

Over the course of the class, we experimented with the different dyes, both on their own and mixed with each other. Of all the colours, my favourite was the colour made with avocado stones, which is, rather surprisingly, a lovely, soft pink. We also wrote out the recipes for each of the dyes, as well as some others we didn't have in front of us.

It was really interesting to learn about Ari, the teacher's, philosophy around dying. To find the plant matter to make the dyes, she forages what has been left on the ground, leaving the living matter for the plant to continue to use. I am often in awe of nature, but I found it particularly interesting that only inedible plant matter makes dye that will last - a rather poetic reminder not to waste food that could be eaten on other things.

On the way home, I stopped in at the supermarket for some avocados to go on my toast and I am looking forward to the dye that I will make from their stones.


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  1. nickydunlop27 February 2020 at 20:44

    This is so cool Hannah! I remember making natural dyes when I taught at St Martins. We used gas cookers in the classroom and used alum?? as a mordant.

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