Natural Dying from Start to Finish

Name: Natural Dying from Start to Finish
Start: 2025-04-25T17:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-25T19:30:00-05:00
Location: 209 East Sheridan Street, Ely, MN, United States, Minnesota 55731

Schedule

Fri Apr 25 2025 at 05:00 pm to 07:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

209 East Sheridan Street, Ely, MN, United States, Minnesota 55731 | Ely, MN

Register here: https://elyfolkschool.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/elyfolkschool/event.jsp?event=15142&
Friday - Sunday, April 25th - 27th
Friday 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuition: $111 Materials: $75
Sliding scale tuition available.
Class 1: Introduction to Natural Dyeing with Natural Fibers
This class is a basic introduction to dyeing natural fibers with natural dyes. Terminology used in dyeing will be explained. We will discuss the differences in protein fibers and cellulose fibers and how to dye each. An overview of the various natural dye methods will be presented. We'll talk about where to get natural dyes and natural fibers and about the types of natural dyes that could be harvested here in this area, when to harvest them, and how to do so safely and in an environmentally friendly way.
During this class we will scour a variety of fibers and talk about why this prep phase is important. Examples of various natural fibers and natural dye projects will be displayed.
Class 2: Natural Dyeing Fiber Preparation
This class focuses on the fiber preparation required for natural dyeing – specifically tannin and mordants. We will review various tannins and mordants and how to use them. Students will learn about protein fibers, cellulose fibers, and the difference in fiber preparation for each. Each student would get 2 types of cellulose fibers (cotton bandana and linen scarf) and 2 types of protein fibers (skein of wool yarn and a sillk scarf) which we would have scoured in the previous session. We would mordant the protein fibers and tannin/mordant the cellulose fibers. Tannins and mordants need to sit overnight – so we’ll use these fibers the next day in the natural dye session.
Class 3: Natural Dyeing
The class would start with rinsing the fibers that sat overnight in the mordant and tannin/mordant pots. We’ll talk about natural dye methods, and natural dye formats. Harvesting versus purchasing natural dyes will be discussed. Four types of natural dye bathes will be prepared. Each student will get the opportunity to dye 2 cellulose fibers and 2 protein fibers (prepped the previous day). Students will have 4 different natural dyes to choose from to dye their fibers. Each student will go home with 2 cellulose (linen scarf and cotton bandana) and 2 protein fiber (silk scarf and skein of wool yarn) projects.

Students should wear old clothes and come prepared with notetaking materials.

About your instructor: Sally Koski is an avid fiber artist who incorporates the use of natural dyes in her fiber artwork. She uses both plants she has grown herself and dye ingredients harvested in the wild as a basis for her dye work. She focuses on environmentally friendly practices in her dye and fiber artwork.
Sally is a frequent exhibitor in the Ely Art Walk and has done presentations to the Range Fiber Art Guild on both natural dye work and nunofelting. She is a member of the Duluth Fiber Guild, the Range Fiber Guild, and the International Natural Dye Education group. Sally was chosen to participate in an international natural dye project which replicated natural dyes used in ancient Egypt (https://www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/papyri-project-ve-index).
Sally has received two Donald G. Gardener Trust individual artist grants and an Arrowhead Regional Art Council Artist Access Grant to support her fiber art work.