This Spring Left Bank will be hosting an exciting new Sustainable Natural Dyeing Course, with Kayleigh Davis  a Yorkshire based textile artist, and workshop facilitator specialising in naturally dyed silks.

This course will consist of Six, two hour sessions during our creative Wednesday evenings and will run in conjunction with Left Banks community Vegetable Garden project. Lead by the knowledgeable Kayleigh, the sessions will cover all there is to know about growing, foraging and dyeing with plant-based pigments.

To join us for this course, you can pick and choose the sessions that interest you by booking per session. If you are interested in joining us for the full course (Wed 8th May 2024 - Wed 12th June 2024) there is also this option. By booking the full course straight up for £110 you will save £10 and avoiding our Booking Fees of an extra £5!  

Please see below for a break down of what each session will cover:

WEEK 1: Wednesday 8th May - Preparing fabrics for natural dyeing; A hands on introduction to creating successful prints. Natural dyes will not work without correctly prepared fabrics. This session will cover selecting fabrics, scouring and mordanting.

WEEK 2: Wednesday 15th May - Natural Dye Basics; Learn how to turn plants into pigments. This hands-on session will cover how to create a successful dye bath using plants grown in our Veg Garden. Using recycled fabric, we will cover basic dye techniques such as dip dyeing and tie-dyeing.

WEEK 3: Wednesday 22nd May - Growing Natural Dyes; Natural dyes can be grown at home! Learn about planning and growing a dye garden with a session at our Veg Garden. Learn which plants will be suitable, growing schedules, and how to harvest, dry and store dyes for year-round use. This session will include a helpful garden planning sheet, hands on learning with plants in the garden and the opportunity to design your own.

WEEK 4: Wednesday 29th May - Bundle Dyeing and Hapa Zome; Create your own designs on fabric by learning the popular technique of bundle dyeing. Learn how to steam plants into cloth to create beautiful pieces. Whilst the bundles are in the pot, we will explore Hapa Zome – the art of hammering plants into cloth. Learn which plants are suitable and top tips to create crisp prints.

WEEK 5: Wednesday 5th June - Foraging For Natural Dyes; Explore found natural dyes on a relaxing foraging walk around our surrounding green areas. Learn which local plants are safe to forage and how to do so responsibly to create beautiful textiles.

WEEK 6: Wednesday 12th June - Upcycle your wardrobe; This sustainable session encourages everyone to bring something made of white cotton or silk, e.g. a t-shirt, shorts, or a pillowcase. We will learn how to scour, mordant and dye their item using natural dyes to breathe new life into it!

Our Café Bar will be open through the evenings for light snacks and refreshments.

ALL TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE

SHORT CUT TO TICKETS HERE!

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