Introdution to botanical printing – Sunnybank Mills, Farsley nr Leeds – 9 Mar 24
In this workshop you will use a range of readily available leaves and plants to create fabulous prints on fabrics. You will learn how to find the best plants for printing, explore different ways to create prints, sampling and experimenting on cotton fabric. Using your samples for ideas and inspiration you will apply your new-found knowledge to print a beautiful silk scarf to take home.
Botanical printing (also referred to as eco-printing, bundling and contact printing) is a way to transfer the beautiful shapes, outlines, colours and textures of plants and leaves from the leaf direct to fabric or paper. Different results may be obtained by using naturally-occurring tannins, mordants and modifiers as well as combining with other natural dyes and dyestuffs. Fun, inexpensive and easy to do at home, it is as exciting as it is unpredictable!
Course level:
This course is suitable for complete beginners. If you have already tried botanical printing (also called contact printing, bundle dyeing and eco-printing) you will love this course as a refresher or chance to extend and practice your skills.
What you will learn on the day:
- You will learn about the fascinating process of botanical printing
- How to source substainably good leaves and plants from your garden and hedgerow.
- What are tannins and the role they play in botanical printing
- Choosing and using mordants (fixers)
- Using colour modifiers to extend the range of your prints.
- How to prepare your fabrics for printing
- Fixing and finishing your prints
- Debbie will share lots of handy ideas and tips to ensure you get great results!
After the workshop, you will take home a lovely, one-of-a-kind scarf and a selection of printed fabric samples. You will have the confidence to take your experiments further at home, including how to set up for printing and how to select and preserve plants for printing.
Do I need to bring anything?
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided but please bring a packed lunch (or choose to buy lunch from our super onsite cafe or one of the lovely local eateries).
We’ll provide everything else you’ll need, including gloves and an apron (but do wear old clothes in case of spills!).
About the classes
Debbie loves to teach and has been a dyer for over 30 years so you’ll be able to pick her brains for tips, tricks and hacks!
Debbie’s dyeing sessions are fun and enjoyable. The pace is relaxed and there is time for questions and we make time for a brew too!
About Debbie
Debbie has been a hand-dyer for over 30 years. She has worked with yarn companies, hand-dyeing yarns for commercial collections. She also ran successful yarn and fibre dye clubs for a number of years.
Debbie teaches dyeing and printing with both synthetic and natural dyes, including indigo and woad vat dyeing. She works with yarn, fabric and fibres.
Debbie is the author of 5 internationally published books, Hand-Dyed Yarn Craft Projects, Complete Knitting Skills, 250 Knitting Stitches, Knitting.Learn it.Love it and How to Knit.
When she’s not dyeing, designing, knitting or crocheting, you’ll find her in the garden, tending her dyeplants, enjoying a nice craft beer or hugging a big mug of builders’ tea. And if you’re out and about, she can often be found in the mosh pit at a gig or enjoying some folk music!
Is there anything we can help with?
If you need any information about this course, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email or phone.
Debbie says... I love teaching workshops and courses – part of the pleasure of doing something I love for a living is in knowing that other people have shared my passion and enthusiasm, learned something new, had lots of fun and generally had a good time! Teaching is a learning process for the tutor as much as for the students so I like to keep a comments book for feedback. Here are some of my favourite excerpts…
What our students say...
“I had a wonderful time and discovered a new passion! Thank you so much for your clear and thorough instructions and for being such an inspiration. My only problem is finding the time to fit dyeing into my already busy days – but never fear, it will have to be done! Inspiring!”
“Wonderful! Thank you very much”.
“A really fun session that demystified what had seemed like a very complicated craft to me before today. Thank you!
“Fab fun. I’d love to do some more! Thankyou!”.
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