eco-printing wool socks workshop
FEB 16 | Sun 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
TROUT LAKE COMMUNITY CENTRE
FEB 21 | Fri 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
TROUT LAKE COMMUNITY CENTRE
MAR 2 | Sun 1 PM – 4 PM
WEST POINT GREY COMMUNITY CENTRE
MAR 16 | Sun 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
ROUNDHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE
This workshop aims to teach the basic concepts of Eco-printing, a delightful natural dyeing technique. This process uses leaves, flowers, seeds, and bark to print colours and shapes directly on the fabric, creating unique designs. Each participant will create one pair of merino wool socks while learning about dyeing plants, the different fabric types, and the use of mordants or colour fasteners. In addition to the traditional dyeing plants, we will use fresh or dry plants (depends on the season), gathered in the streets. In this way, we inspire a more comprehensive look of each participant to Nature, which surrounds us, with all its generosity and beauty, even in an urban area like Metro Vancouver. To learning more about this technique, read the blog post Botanical contact printing – A delightful natural dyeing technique.
Workshop Length
3 hours
Basic concepts
- Eco-printing as a natural dyeing technique
- Fibre types (silk, linen, cotton and wool): how to prepare it
- Dye plants: what it is
- Mordants (colour fasteners): function and procedures
- How to create patterns and prints through eco-printing
Practice
- Knowing the dye plants
- Preparing the fabric bundles with plants
- Cooking the fabric bundles
- Opening the dyeing fabric bundle to see the results
- Q&A section
Material provided
- 1 pair of merino wool socks ready to dye (60% Wool / 20% Rayon / 15% Polyamide / 5% Lycra)
- 2 pairs of vinil gloves
- All material for the dyeing process such as plants, mordants and utensils
- Booklet Botanical Contact Printing with tutorials and recipes
