
Colours from Nature – Introduction to naturally dyeing yarn – 1/7/14th August 25

Join dye expert Debbie Tomkies in collabortion with Breakdown Bolton CIC and the Woodland Trust at the Wild and Fruity allotment in Bolton as she shows you how to create beautiful colours from plant extracts and plants using simple techniques you can repeat at home.
This introductory session is suitable for complete beginners. For those who have done some natural dyeing previously, there is plenty to explore too!
We’ll start with a short introduction to natural dyeing, where the dyes come from etc. We’ll be talking about dye plants growing at the allotment, which dyes you could grow easily at home and how to use them.
Debbie will then show you how to prepare dye plants and you will try some fun natural dyeing techniques.
All materials are included – we provide quality materials, dyeing instructions a selection of items to take home.
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!
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 6 internationally published books, Hand-Dyed Yarn Craft Projects, Complete Knitting Skills, 250 Knitting Stitches, Knitting.Learn it.Love it, How to Knit and Cable Knitting Stitch Dictionary.
When she’s not dyeing, designing, knitting or crocheting, you’ll find her in the garden, tending her dye plants, 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!
If you need any information about this course, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Breakdown Bolton who will be able to tell you more about booking your place.
‘Loved this workshop. Thanks for your patience and your calm and relaxed style was great. Looking forward to trying out some of these techniques!’ Jo
‘Great fun, great class size, Debbie on hand to help whenever I got stuck. Liked the pace and felt very at ease. I am so pleased at learning these techniques! Thank you!’ Rose x