Botanical Printing and Natural Dyeing on Fabric

$495.00
sold out

Learn the art of botanical printing on linen, cotton and silk. Experience the joy of capturing nature’s details on fabric.

Be open to the collaboration with plants and their distinctive traits. We will add some colour using traditional natural dyes.

Botanical printing is a direct contact process using plant matter. This is a class about technique (we are not producing items for sale).

Once good technique is mastered you may continue at home to print on clothing and larger pieces .

Our pieces will be suitable to make into cushions, table runners, bags and many other things. We will dye some threads so you may stitch into your work later.

AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult

SKILL LEVEL: Everyone - Suitable for a range of experience and skill. Tutors understand that there will be varying skill levels and will adapt to the needs and interests of all students.

SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

VENUE: Bellingen High School

STATUS: Almost full

Add To Cart

Learn the art of botanical printing on linen, cotton and silk. Experience the joy of capturing nature’s details on fabric.

Be open to the collaboration with plants and their distinctive traits. We will add some colour using traditional natural dyes.

Botanical printing is a direct contact process using plant matter. This is a class about technique (we are not producing items for sale).

Once good technique is mastered you may continue at home to print on clothing and larger pieces .

Our pieces will be suitable to make into cushions, table runners, bags and many other things. We will dye some threads so you may stitch into your work later.

AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult

SKILL LEVEL: Everyone - Suitable for a range of experience and skill. Tutors understand that there will be varying skill levels and will adapt to the needs and interests of all students.

SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

VENUE: Bellingen High School

STATUS: Almost full

Learn the art of botanical printing on linen, cotton and silk. Experience the joy of capturing nature’s details on fabric.

Be open to the collaboration with plants and their distinctive traits. We will add some colour using traditional natural dyes.

Botanical printing is a direct contact process using plant matter. This is a class about technique (we are not producing items for sale).

Once good technique is mastered you may continue at home to print on clothing and larger pieces .

Our pieces will be suitable to make into cushions, table runners, bags and many other things. We will dye some threads so you may stitch into your work later.

AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult

SKILL LEVEL: Everyone - Suitable for a range of experience and skill. Tutors understand that there will be varying skill levels and will adapt to the needs and interests of all students.

SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

VENUE: Bellingen High School

STATUS: Almost full

course info

Please read all course information below before purchasing tickets for this event.

  • Day One

    • Introduction to natural dyes - discussion of samples

    • Preparation of fabrics for tomorrow’s printing

    • Essential knowledge before we begin

    • Creating sample prints using fabrics I have already prepared

    • Iron/tannin reaction, health and safety issues

    • Foraging and environmental issues

    • Recording information

    Day Two

    • Finishing fabric prep from yesterday

    • Looking at yesterday’s samples to understand plant properties

    • Bundling

    • Printing

    • Making a weld dyepot

    • Tannin blankets

    Day Three

    • More printing - different layout techniques

    • Demonstration of printing a garment

    • Making a cochineal dye pot

    • Under/overdyeing

    Day Four

    • Variations on intensity - more printing

    • Making a logwood dyepot

    Day Five

    • Print print print

    • Discussion on finishing/fabric care

    • Analysing everyone’s work

    • Final wrap

    • Examination and evaluation

  • Please bring the following on your first day of class:

    Please don’t bring synthetic fabrics - they don’t take natural dyes.

    • 1 metre wool (woven or jersey)

    • 1-2 metres linen

    • 2-3 metres cotton

    • 1-2 metres silk (your choice - could be dupion or charmeuse or georgette or wild silk or other)

    • Blanket material 3 metres minimum

    • Pegs

    • 3 buckets

    • 2 pairs washing up gloves

    • Painters plastic drop sheet

    • Roll of 38cm wide Aldi Baking Paper

    • Needle

    • Thread

    • Waterproof marker

    • String or 2-3 t shirts to cut into string

    • Notebook

    • Fabric scissors

    • Secateurs or rough scissors for plant

    • Pen

    • Camera to record layouts

    • 1 packet large heavy duty plastic garbage bags

    • 4 wooden dowels 45cm or less - old wooden broomsticks are good

    • Foliage from your garden, neighbours, flower market and the bush

    This class has an extra materials cost of $50, which is payable directly to the tutor.

    Once you book your ticket, the tutor will be in touch to arrange payment.


    Cost of $50 includes:

    • Natural dyes, tannins, alum and other additives

    • Gas cylinders

    • Dyeing equipment

    • Two panels of mordanted linen/cotton for use on the first day

    • Some natural fibre threads to dye for stitching/embroidery in your work later

  • No experience required.

    Please note that you will be working with hot liquids.

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This course was a great introduction into a new creative hobby that we can continue to develop our skills at home. Anne is a fabulously generous person with sharing knowledge, resources and useful feedback.
— Happy Camper Review

YOUR COURSE TUTOR

Anne Foy

Since 2017 Anne has combined travel and learning about natural dyeing from leaders in the field.

This has taken her to Spain and twice to Holland. She also attended the World Shibori Symposiums in Mexico and Japan. Anne has also taught several multi-day workshops in natural dyeing and botanical printing.

She works from her home studio in Sydney, where she explores using colours from natural sources to make paints, inks, pastels,  and dyes.