Last year, I launched a series of workshops at Oil and Cotton that were about the history of textile arts. We began with hand spindles and worked out way through wool, nettle and linen. We also tried out some natural dyes before tackling weaving.
I am repeating the series this year and the cycle has come round to Natural Dyes with a focus on the Middle Ages.
The workshop will be March 5th from 2-4pm.
There are no prerequisites to attend.
Go here to register.
I plan to have two big dye pots going: one with Logwood and the other with Bois d’arc. Both dyes are taken from the heart-wood of trees indigenous to the New World. Not available in Europe in the Middle Ages, but in common use among the people of the Americas. I will also have small (but mighty) pot of walnut dye.
In Medieval Europe, the majority of the population would be wearing linen (hard to dye) close to the skin and wool ( easy to dye) as an outer garment. Most folks use local plants dye their fabric or relied on the natural colors of fibers. The wealthy also had access to dyestuff which came west along the Silk Road. Poor folks could use walnuts for a strong brown color for their outer garments.
Woad was a common source of blue, until indigo arrived from India, upending the market. Similarly, Madder made a good enough red, until cochineal was introduced from New Spain (Mexico). The story of these dyes are steeped in the history of colonialism, global trade and international relations. We shall, of course, cover some of these topics during the workshop.
Once we are done, everyone will take home a dyed scarf and a small skein of dyed wool. Participants are also invited to bring small silk or wool items from home to try out in the dye baths. If you plan to bring something from home, let me know, and come 30 minutes early so we can scour it. Scouring is not essential, but it yields much stronger colors.
Sign up through the Oil and Cotton webpage!
Spaces are limited.