At first glance, winter might seem like an unlikely time to be seeking color from nature. If you look closely, though, there are many sources of color at your fingertips, from alder and spruce cones to birchbark and oak leaves. In this class, we’ll explore some of these local color possibilities and more while also learning the basics of natural dyeing. This class will suit beginners curious about plant dyeing to advanced students looking to widen their spectrum of color sources. By the end of class, students will have a basic understanding of how natural dyes work, and take home various sample skeins of yarn, linen, and cotton, along with future project inspiration and ideas of where to forage for winter dyes.

Students aged 16+ may register for this course independently. Students aged 12-15 may register with a full-paying adult. Adult/child pairs will complete two projects and two materials fees. A 25% tuition discount applies to the youth registrant when registering with a full paying adult; call to register.

Required Tools

• Rubber gloves (long kitchen kind)
• Comfortable shoes for standing in
• Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. An apron works great as well
• An old bath towel (two if you have room!)
• A plastic bag or ziploc for bringing home any damp items 

Optional Tools

• Students are welcome to bring along any fresh or dried plant materials they would like to experiment with as well as a few pieces of extra cloth to dye made from natural fibers such as linen, cotton, or silk. New or thrifted work well!