Recording: Foundation Course in Natural Dyes With Kathy Hattori

Description

Recording: Foundation Course in Natural Dyes with Kathy Hattori

Download link is added to your Botanical Colors account dashboard upon purchase.  Please check under Downloads on your dashboard for access. If any questions, please email [email protected]

We invite you to join us for one of our most exciting classes: A Foundation Course in Natural Dyes. One of the greatest pleasures in exploring natural dyes are the endless possibilities of creating color with plants and flowers. If you’ve been bitten by the natural dye bug, natural dyes will just become a lifetime of learning for you. But first, you need a solid base.

In this online recording, we will learn to create a beautiful and harmonious palette of hues using natural dye extract concentrates. You will see how easy it is combining shades and modifiers to create colors that can work on their own or form a foundation for fun experiments and discoveries.  You will learn the tips and tricks that we use in our own practice and production studio and how simple changes can produce surprising results.

The class will work with the dyes and auxiliaries contained in the Botanical Colors Beginner Kit.

We will emphasize how to create beautiful color using the least amount of water and energy possible along with guidance for keeping notes and samples and how to evaluate your results.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed, but there is a method to the natural color world. This is a class that will help you gain understanding and confidence with approaching your natural dye practice. We’ll be with you every step of the way!

We will cover

• Scouring
• Mordanting
• Dyeing
• Color overdyes
• Modifiers – pH color changers and iron

Format

This is the video of the Foundation in Natural Dyes workshop that was held over 2 days earlier this year.  You will receive instructional PDFs to cover how to scour and mordant protein or cellulose fabrics, as well as be able to view the workshop and see what we covered during this recent session.  There are 2 3-hour videos as this was a follow-along format, and a 20 page PDF, plus 2 PowerPoint presentations.

Details

You will get the most out of the workshop if you are prepared and follow along doing the steps with Kathy while at home. If you find that style is too fast-paced you are welcome to observe and then at your own leisure prepare your work. The workshop will be recorded and available until 4/15/25. 

Materials and Equipment

If you purchase the Botanical Colors Beginner Dye Kit, you will have the dyes and ingredients you need for this workshop.  If you’ve already used part of your kit, our workshop uses small amounts, so check with us to see if you will need to order some supplies. You will need to provide your own fabric, and you can use cotton and wool fabrics, which is what we used, or other natural fibers such as silk, linen and hemp.  If possible, try to experiment with one plant-based fiber (cotton, linen, hemp) and one protein-based fiber (wool, silk, alpaca)

If you prefer to work out of your current Botanical Colors stash, please check the note below for the ingredients to have on hand.

Supplying your own dye ingredients? If you choose to provide your own Botanical Colors dyes and mordants, please have the following ingredients available.  Aluminum triformate, soda ash, citric acid, tannin powder, iron powder, logwood liquid, madder extract, and fustic extract.

Equipment Needed

• Approximately 3/4 yard each cotton and wool fabric.  You may substitute other fibers – be aware that your results may differ.
• A large enameled canning kettle or stock pot, approx. 16-20 quart size
• A heat source such as a hot plate.
• 6 large (64 ounce or 2 quart) wide mouth Mason Jars.  If you are unable to find these, use 1 quart or 1 liter jars instead.
• A digital scale that weighs in grams
• An assortment of containers such as glass jars, cup and quart-sized yogurt containers for weighing and mixing ingredients
• An apron, dust mask and gloves
• A notebook and pen
• Measuring spoons
• Longer handled stirring spoons or plain chopsticks (for the Mason jars)
• A digital thermometer or candy thermometer
• Tongs
• Blue tape and Sharpie for labeling
• Rags for spills and drips
• A place to hang your samples to dry

The structure of the workshop

Day 1 video recording

After registration, we will send you the video link and PDF instructions. The information will cover the basics of scouring and mordanting. We will also review studio tools and setup.

Next, this is where it starts to get really fun. Jump into color with us as we start dyeing the first colors of our palette using the fabrics you have prepared.  We will explain our method of using the dyes and then start working!  At the end of our session you will have part of your colors dyed and be ready for the next day.

Day 2 video recording

We continue with our dye experiments and complete our color palette along with expanding shades by using simple modifiers.  Learn our methods of dramatic or subtle color changes and observe how the dyes work with each fabric to gain understanding of how to choose fabrics for your project.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you check out as a Guest when purchasing, the downloads sometimes get wonky.  Please email us below for access and let us know your order number so we can assist. Thanks for your patience!

Questions? Please email us at [email protected] for any questions.