Workshops and Classes
Teaching the art of capturing color from plants.
Learn how to use locally grown flowers, food waste, and foraged plants to make beautiful, naturally dyed textiles in my hands-on workshops and classes. Listings are updated often!
Intro to Natural Dyes on Cloth
Designed for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, this four-week workshop will take you step-by-step through the fundamentals of successfully coloring fabric using natural dyes. We’ll cover fiber sourcing, proper cleaning and scouring techniques, and best practices for pretreating fabric with tannins and mordants, all tailored to the specific natural dyes being used. We’ll extract dye baths from a variety of natural sources, including food waste, locally grown plants, and traditional historic dyes. Finally, we’ll use shibori resist techniques and dye modifiers, combined with immersion dyeing, to create vibrant colors and intricate patterns on cloth. Gain a comprehensive understanding of natural dyeing techniques and develop a newfound appreciation for the magic and beauty of natural dyes.
Local Natural Dyes: Philly’s Springtime Colors
Designed for those new to natural dyeing or looking to deepen their practice, this five-week hands-on workshop explores the vibrant world of natural color using springtime plants and materials found right here in Philadelphia. From neighborhood trees and native flowers to kitchen scraps and common garden plants, you’ll learn how to turn everyday local resources into stunning, naturally dyed textiles.
We’ll cover fiber selection, scouring, and best practices for pretreating fabric with tannins and mordants—tailored to the specific natural dyes we’ll be using. Discussions will highlight the unique characteristics of plant dyes and introduce the science behind this ancient craft. Dye baths will be extracted from a variety of sources, including food waste, traditional dye plants, and the local flora growing in our urban environment. You’ll also experiment with shibori resist techniques and dye modifiers in combination with immersion dyeing to create bold patterns and long-lasting color. Leave with a beautiful collection of naturally dyed textiles and a fresh appreciation for the hidden natural color all around you!
The Penn State Master Gardeners of Philadelphia Plant Sale & Garden Day
For the third year in a row, I'll be taking part in the Master Gardeners of Philadelphia Plant Sale & Garden Day, alongside Cait Nolan. We'll be doing live demonstrations of several natural dyeing techniques and selling indigo and weld plant starts, naturally dyed bandanas, plant-based inks, and other goodies. Stop by to say hello, enjoy free kids’ activities, and buy all your veggie seedlings, native plants, annuals, perennials, and more!
FREE and open to the public!
Shibori with Plant Dyes: From Nature to Craft
Learn how to use traditional Japanese shibori techniques in combination with flowers and plants to create beautiful, naturally dyed textiles. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore the art of resist dyeing to create unique patterns on fabric through various folding and binding methods. As we work, we’ll discuss the fundamentals of natural dyeing, including fiber preparation, plant selection, and the unique qualities of plant dyes. You’ll leave the workshop with a plant-dyed bandana of your own design and a deeper understanding of sustainable textile art. Experience the magic of coaxing color from plants with these ancient craft techniques that will lead you to rethink the creative potential of the natural world.
All materials are provided.
Bundle Dyeing with Flowers & Kitchen Dyes
Learn how to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind patterns on textiles using a variety of flowers, botanical dyes, kitchen scraps, and spices. This workshop will lead participants through one of the most water-wise and unique natural dye processes, known as “bundle dyeing”. By focusing on both kitchen dyes and flower dyes, participants will be introduced to a broad array of natural dye sources. You’ll leave this workshop with a bundle-dyed organic cotton bandana and silk scarf of your own creation, and with a handout to assist you in continuing your investigation of these practices on your own. Discover the joy of capturing color from plants and humble kitchen waste to create works of art on fabric.
This workshop is appropriate for all experience levels. All materials and supplies are provided.
Bundle Dyeing with Flowers & Kitchen Dyes
Learn how to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind patterns on textiles using a variety of flowers, botanical dyes, kitchen scraps, and spices. Set within a natural landscape at the Greenbelt Nature Center, this workshop will lead participants through one of the most water-wise and unique natural dye processes, known as “bundle dyeing”. By focusing on both kitchen and flower dyes, participants will be introduced to a broad array of natural dye sources. By the end of this workshop, you'll create a bundle-dyed organic cotton bandana and silk scarf, and receive a PDF handout to guide your continued exploration of these practices. Discover the joy of capturing color from plants and humble kitchen waste to create works of art on fabric.
This workshop is appropriate for ages 8+ and all experience levels. All materials and supplies are provided.
Plant to Print: Eco-Printing with Wildflowers
Join me for this hands-on three hour workshop at fellow natural dyer, Cait Nolan's, South Jersey farm-studio located just 30 minutes from Philly. Learn how to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind botanical prints on textiles with freshly picked flowers. This workshop will lead participants through the natural dye process known as "eco-printing" using locally grown dye flowers. We’ll take time to discuss the basics of natural dyeing, including fiber preparation and plant selection, while leaving plenty of opportunity for you to gather your own flowers for printing from Cait's homegrown wildflower fields. You'll leave this workshop having created an eco-printed silk scarf and organic cotton bandana and with a PDF that will allow you to continue investigating these practices on your own. Get inspired by the magic of coaxing color from cheerful flowers to create works of art on fabric.
This workshop is appropriate for all levels of experience ages 12+. The $115 per person workshop fee covers all materials and supplies to create two eco-printed pieces.
Beginning in 2025, 10% of the registration fees for workshops held on Cait Nolan's farm will be donated to the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape Nation of N.J.
Clicking the “Enroll & Add to Cart” button below will direct you to an enrollment form. After completing the form, the workshop will be added to your shopping cart. Please submit a separate enrollment form for each individual attending the class. You will then navigate to your shopping cart at the top of the page to complete the checkout process, which finalizes your enrollment and reserves your place in class.
$115.00
Shibori with Plant Dyes
Learn how to use traditional Japanese shibori techniques in combination with flowers and plants to create beautiful, naturally dyed textiles. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore the art of resist dyeing to create unique patterns on fabric through various folding and binding methods. As we work, we’ll discuss the fundamentals of natural dyeing, including fiber preparation, plant selection, and the unique qualities of plant dyes. You’ll leave the workshop with a plant-dyed cotton bandana and silk scarf of your own design and a deeper understanding of sustainable textile art. Experience the magic of coaxing color from plants with these ancient craft techniques that will lead you to rethink the creative potential of the natural world.
All materials are provided.
Plant to Print: Eco-Printing with Wildflowers
Join me for this hands-on three hour workshop at fellow natural dyer, Cait Nolan's, South Jersey farm-studio located just 30 minutes from Philly. Learn how to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind botanical prints on textiles with freshly picked flowers. This workshop will lead participants through the natural dye process known as "eco-printing" using locally grown dye flowers. We’ll take time to discuss the basics of natural dyeing, including fiber preparation and plant selection, while leaving plenty of opportunity for you to gather your own flowers for printing from Cait's homegrown wildflower fields. You'll leave this workshop having created an eco-printed silk scarf and organic cotton bandana and with a PDF that will allow you to continue investigating these practices on your own. Get inspired by the magic of coaxing color from cheerful flowers to create works of art on fabric.
This workshop is appropriate for all levels of experience ages 12+. The $115 per person workshop fee covers all materials and supplies to create two eco-printed pieces.
Beginning in 2025, 10% of the registration fees for workshops held on Cait Nolan's farm will be donated to the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape Nation of N.J.
Clicking the “Enroll & Add to Cart” button below will direct you to an enrollment form. After completing the form, the workshop will be added to your shopping cart. Please submit a separate enrollment form for each individual attending the class. You will then navigate to your shopping cart at the top of the page to complete the checkout process, which finalizes your enrollment and reserves your place in class.
$115.00