Join natural dyer & gardener Katie Spencer to learn how to safely process barberry, buckthorn, and lady’s bedstraw into dyes for wool, silk, cotton, and linen. Participants will leave with a “reference sheet” of the different dyes on cotton & linen samples to use for future projects. (If you would also like to see how each performs on wool, send an email to k.rose.spencer@gmail.com before class.) We will also have a chance to experiment with naturally extracted pigments on paper — sap green paint, for example, comes from buckthorn berries. While this class is focused on a particular set of plants, it is a great way to learn about natural dyeing in general for those who are new to the craft. 

More about the instructor: Katie Spencer has been making art her entire life, one of the many benefits of being the daughter of an art teacher. In 2020, she started making dyes from plants, when her next-door neighbor  taught her that loquat leaves make the color pink. Born and raised in Strafford, Katie works as a private gardener during the growing months and an artist all year round. She lives in Chelsea with her partner, dog, sheep, and chickens. You can see her latest work at www.ktrose.co. 

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