5 Day Intensive Natural Dye Workshop, Cape Breton

One of the most well known and talented surface designers working with natural dyes and ecoprints, Irit Dulman will lead students in an exploration of the wonderful possibilities of whole cloth dyeing and over-printing with plants.

In this five day intensive workshop you will learn techniques to layer leaves to create a 3D look on cloth. Irit will teach participants how to create a basic print pattern and then how to dye your cloth with classic natural dyes such as madder, weld, logwood, indigo, etc.

Under Irit’s expert guidance, participants will explore the local Cape Breton plants and the colours they give. Irit will guide students in an exploration of the potential of different plants, including the presence of colour/pigment, tannin, or the ability to discharge a dyed background.

Using high quality natural fibres, you will make a large number of samples to check consistency in your process and results. We will move forward slowly, to ensure ample time for learning to be absorbed, before executing your final well-designed, well-prepared fabrics. 

During the workshop, Irit will provide layout and composition exercises to expand students’ point of view regarding surface design with plants.

Class size is capped at 14 to ensure that there is plenty of time for Irit to provide support and feedback to each student.