THE OLD KENNELS

about us . courses . bed & breakfast . alpaca products . newsletter . recipes . contact/find us . terms

Thursday 18th September 2003

Natural Dyeing

Tutors; Tina Clark and Tracey Crook

Dyeing using plants from your garden and other natural sources. Learn how to fix and change the colours you achieve, and produce samples for future reference. Bring small skeins of wool or alpaca to dye, or use the fleece supplied.

There will also be opportunity to try felting, with
Tina Clark (whos exhibition of feltwork opens shortly at Taunton Library).

Lots of lovely felt and yarns!

So we stewed up onion skins, logwood, nettles, elderberries, blackberries, walnut husks (I have the black hands to prove it despite the gloves!) and a cool bucket of madder root.

There were skeins of wool, silk and alpaca everywhere. Into the dyebaths and time for a doughnut and coffee!

While our brews cooked, Tina Clark, a very accomplished felter, showed us some of the work for her forthcoming exhibition.

Inspipired, we felted little bags, purses, sample
and bases to embroider under her expert tuition,
what a packed day!

Then the dyebaths were cooked...

...and the results spoke for themselves!