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About Cheryl > Workshops and Apprenticeships

Workshops and Apprenticeships

Basic Natural Dye Workshops

Scarf

Paint dyed scarf

Scarf

Paint dyed scarf

Cheryl

Indigo dyed fabric

Learn hands-on about natural dyes and natural dyeing in Cheryl's fun, in-depth workshops. You get individual instruction as workshop is limited to only six students! Please call (503) 286-4149 for more details and to register.

Workshops cover:
· dyeing with Indigo, Fustic, Madder, Brazilwood, Logwood, and Cochineal
· use of mordants
· choice of yarns and fibre
· techniques and principles of natural dyes
· as well as the ever-popular paint-dyeing with natural dyes.

Cost:
$440 per student -- includes all materials, book, etc., but not food or lodging.

Terms:
50% deposit holds your place. Balance due on registration.

Location:
Workshops are held at Aurora Silk's new cottage in Portland. Pick up and drop off at the airport or train station is included. Meals will be "pot luck" with cooking parties and trips to the nearby natural foods store so vegan or vegetarian or other dietary needs can be met. Up to five students may spend the nights at the cottage, with spartan but comfortable "sleep-over" accommodations included in the costs.

Cheryl’s workshops consistently fill up months in advance. Please contact us with your interest so we may put you on the e-mailing list for the next series of workshops, and possible apprenticeships.

Learn all about natural dyes, where they come from, and how they are applied. We will dye 15 colours, by immersion dyeing in pots:

  • Red with Brazilwood.
  • Scarlet, Rose, Magenta, and Plum with Cochineal.
  • Blues and Greens with Indigo.
  • Yellows with Fusticwood.
  • Purples, Greys, and soft Greens with Logwood.

We will "Surface Design" two large hemmed silk scarves (Paint / African style Fold Resist / Japanese style "Shibori").

Class includes:

  • We will paint dye two large hemmed silk scarves.
  • Includes evening talk "All About Silk" and "All About Hemp."

Provided:

  • All dyes and materials.
  • All equipment.
  • Your choice of either silk fabric or silk yarns for the fifteen basic colours listed above.
  • Two hemmed silk scarves for paint dyeing.
  • Brilliant colours on Silk - Cheryl's book of recipes and articles on Natural Dyeing on silk and other fibres, which includes a colour chart of 33 representative colours on silk yarn. (Sent in advance.)
  • Workshop is personally tailored to your needs.

Cheryl has been conducting Natural Dye workshops since 1979. Many students have gone on to professional/semi-professional careers using Natural Dyes.