Not Your Grandma’s Dye–Pot!

Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7

9am to 4pm (both days)

Instructor: Kathrin Weber

$150 WGGC members / $175 non-members, plus $30 materials fee

Beginner to advanced dyers welcome!

The goal for this dyeing workshop is to learn the basics for dyeing full, rich color in cellulose yarn (cotton, rayon, linen, etc.), traditional as well as non-traditional application of dyes, processes needed to set the dyes for color fastness, and to do it all safely. You will learn funadmentals for dye application to produce one of a kind, technically sound and color-fast hand-dyed cotton yarn and fabric. You will learn techniques for space-dyeing skeins and warps, resist dyeing yarn, and how to set up a basic dye kitchen. And, beyond that, you will learn to dye with personal fearlessness and intention.

We will discuss and explore a wide vaiety of ways to lay out warps to be dyed – each layout giving a different result for what will turn into woven fabric. This is not a “recipe” class. Using seven hues of Fiber Reactive MX dyes, students will being to develop insight into the essence of color that allows them to blend, shade, and produce a full spectrum of color.

Tools/supplies to bring to class:

• $30 materials fee, payable to the instructor (see additional information below)
• Notebook/folder/pen/pencil for handouts and notes
• Rubber gloves
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Dust mask
• Spray bottle
• Metal whisk
• Plastic batter bowl (Find a Dollar Store. See photo below.)
• Several plastic kitchen trash bags (13 gallon size)
• Roll of paper towels
• Couple of small plastic cups (i.e. yogurt or cottage cheese containers)
• Couple of quart size plastic containers (i.e. large yogurt or deli containers)
• Measuring spoons and cups (Never to be used for food preparation again!)
• 1-2 gallon bucket
• (Not optional) Several inch stack of newspaper or a box of puppy pads for absorbing extra dye

Material to bring for dyeing in class: Bring several cotton (or other cellulose) warps and/or skeins wound, scoured, and ready to dye. You may choose to dye a few with great care or a dozen with fearful playfulness. The warps/skeins can be any weight up to 12 oz each. If you would rather dye fewer but larger warps/skeins, that is fine too. Bring some plant based fabric if you would like to dye cloth. Remember that cellulose includes cotton, rayon, bamboo, linen, hemp, etc. All of these will dye. Please do not come planning to dye wool or silk as your main focus, but bring a skein or two if you would like to try them.

Materials Fee: $30 per student, payable to the instructor, which includes a personal dye kit and handouts. Students will provide their own fiber to dye. Pre-wound warps and skeins are available from Kathrin and may be purchased online through her web site, Blazing Shuttles, and her webshop.

About the Instructor: Kathrin is an experienced weaving and dyeing teacher. As she states on her website: “My goal for dyers is to learn to dye intuitively as a watercolorist creates color as she paints instead of relying on recipies for color. What I strive to teach is seeing the color, understanding the color and then producing the color. I think of this as learning to play an instrument by ear rather than reading music. Both are excellent skills and I encourage both sets of skills. But if one can dye by eye, that person is never at a loss for color and not at the mercy of having a recipe at hand.”

Paying for this workshop by check is possible, but you must contact the Chair, Melissa Lusk, to arrange registration. Please note that your check must be received within 10 business days of registration.

Cancellation Policies Regarding Student Fees

• If teacher or Guild cancels workshop – full refund to all registered and cancelled students. Generally, the teacher or the Guild may cancel the workshop three (3) or more weeks before the workshop start date. This is stipulated in the contract but can be flexible if both parties agree.
• If a registered student wishes to cancel, s/he must:
  • Contact the Workshop Chair
  • If canceling thirty (30) or more days before workshop start date, student receives a refund of the workshop fee minus a $50 cancellation fee.
  • Cancel twenty-nine (29) or fewer days before the workshop start date
    • Refund workshop fee minus $50 cancelation fee only if vacant spot is filled by another person (from waitlist or otherwise).
    • No refund if spot remains vacant.
• Registered student may independently find someone to take his/her place at the workshop with no extra fees involved as long as no cancellation is performed through EventBrite. Workshop Chair MUST be notified. In this situation, the primary registered student is responsible for all fees, passing on information to their replacement, etc.