DYEING

Colour changes everything! Learning to dye your own colours on yarn and fibre sets the foundation for your own unique creations in the fibre arts. From weaving with hand-dyed warps to spinning with handpainted fibre, colour play begins with dyeing.

DYEING WITH ACID DYES

Create your own unapologetic and unique hand-dyed yarns and colourways using acid dyes and protein-based fibres with confidence and intention. If you are interested in learning acid dyeing, please start with Dyeing Intentional Colour and then go onto Dyeing Complex Colour.

All-Access

7 Lessons

Acid Dyeing Basics Study Guide: Fundamentals

Charlotte Lee

If you are intrigued by the beauty of hand-dyed yarns and fibres and would like to learn about using acid dyes along with a supportive group, join us in this four-week Acid Dyeing Study Group. We will start from the very basics—from setting up a dye space and mixing dye stock solutions, to finishing up some hand-dyed yarns and fibres. Let’s dye some magic together!
All-Access

1 Lesson

Creating Complex Colourways Lecture

Felicia Lo

For the several years, I taught this live dyeing workshop to students at our SweetGeorgia Studio. The first year, the workshop sold out within three…
All-Access

48 Lessons

Dyeing Complex Colour

Felicia Lo

Discover new ways to add complexity and richness to your hand-dyed colourways using acid dyes and protein-based fibres. This course builds upon our foundation of creating intentional colour and explores hand-dyeing techniques to add that elusive depth and richness that makes colours sing.
All-Access

34 Lessons

Dyeing Intentional Colour

Felicia Lo

Create your own unapologetic and unique hand-dyed yarns and colourways using acid dyes and protein-based fibres with confidence and intention
All-Access

7 Lessons

Dyeing Large Amounts of Fibre

Charlotte Lee

If you are intrigued by the nuances of colour in hand-dyed fibres, whether in small quantities or planning to dye a bulk amount, Dyeing Large Amounts of Fibre is the course for you.
All-Access

7 Lessons

Dyeing Large Amounts of Yarn

Charlotte Lee

If you are intrigued by the nuances in hand-dyed spinning yarns, with the goal to dye bulk amounts, then Dyeing Large Amounts of Yarn is the course for you.

All-Access

7 Lessons

Acid Dyeing Basics Study Guide: Fundamentals

Charlotte Lee

If you are intrigued by the beauty of hand-dyed yarns and fibres and would like to learn about using acid dyes along with a supportive group, join us in this four-week Acid Dyeing Study Group. We will start from the very basics—from setting up a dye space and mixing dye stock solutions, to finishing up some hand-dyed yarns and fibres. Let’s dye some magic together!
All-Access

1 Lesson

Creating Complex Colourways Lecture

Felicia Lo

For the several years, I taught this live dyeing workshop to students at our SweetGeorgia Studio. The first year, the workshop sold out within three…
All-Access

48 Lessons

Dyeing Complex Colour

Felicia Lo

Discover new ways to add complexity and richness to your hand-dyed colourways using acid dyes and protein-based fibres. This course builds upon our foundation of creating intentional colour and explores hand-dyeing techniques to add that elusive depth and richness that makes colours sing.
All-Access

34 Lessons

Dyeing Intentional Colour

Felicia Lo

Create your own unapologetic and unique hand-dyed yarns and colourways using acid dyes and protein-based fibres with confidence and intention
All-Access

7 Lessons

Dyeing Large Amounts of Fibre

Charlotte Lee

If you are intrigued by the nuances of colour in hand-dyed fibres, whether in small quantities or planning to dye a bulk amount, Dyeing Large Amounts of Fibre is the course for you.
All-Access

7 Lessons

Dyeing Large Amounts of Yarn

Charlotte Lee

If you are intrigued by the nuances in hand-dyed spinning yarns, with the goal to dye bulk amounts, then Dyeing Large Amounts of Yarn is the course for you.

DYEING WITH NATURAL DYES

The range of colours that can be produced with natural dyes has a cohesiveness and harmony that roots us to our environment. The natural dye journey is full of colour play and learning. Join us in these courses to learn to dye with natural dyes, extracts, wildcrafted materials, indigo powder, and fresh indigo leaves.

All-Access

2 Lessons

Eco Printing with Natural Dyes

Caitlin ffrench

Learn about contact printing, making prints of leaves and flowers onto fabric, yarn and knitted items, with Vancouver artist Caitlin ffrench!
All-Access

5 Lessons

Fresh Indigo Leaf Dyeing

Caitlin ffrench

Fresh Indigo leaf dyeing is a very easy way of getting into natural dyeing. In this course we are going to be dyeing using both the salt rub method and ice dyeing method. You will learn: planting indigo, harvesting the leaves, ice dye method, salt rub method, propagating from cuttings, seed saving and more!
All-Access

2 Lessons

Handpainting with Natural Dyes

Kathy Hattori

Yarn painting is one of the easiest ways to put natural colour on yarn. The colour choices are endless and the way that colour moves through the skein is fascinating and beautiful to our eye. Learn to handpaint yarns and fibres with natural dyes.
All-Access

1 Lesson

Indigo Dyeing

Kathy Hattori

Join in the magical world of indigo dyeing with Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors! In this presentation, learn about working with indigo dyes and creating an indigo vat, including tips and troubleshooting help, followed by a Q&A session at the end.
All-Access

31 Lessons

Natural Dyeing Basics

Caitlin ffrench

Learn how to use natural dyes with plant and animal based fibres. Instructor Caitlin ffrench guides you through all the steps of natural dyeing – how to scour, mordant and dye your materials (and the importance behind each step), along with the best dyeing practices for your home or studio set-up.
All-Access

12 Lessons

Natural Dyeing Study Guide

Felicia Lo

A 10-week study group plan to work through the SOS natural dyeing courses and content on a week-by-week basis.
All-Access

1 Lesson

Plant a Natural Dye Garden

Caitlin ffrench

Join in learning to grow your own dye garden and safe wildcrafting natural dye plants with Caitlin ffrench.

All-Access

2 Lessons

Eco Printing with Natural Dyes

Caitlin ffrench

Learn about contact printing, making prints of leaves and flowers onto fabric, yarn and knitted items, with Vancouver artist Caitlin ffrench!
All-Access

5 Lessons

Fresh Indigo Leaf Dyeing

Caitlin ffrench

Fresh Indigo leaf dyeing is a very easy way of getting into natural dyeing. In this course we are going to be dyeing using both the salt rub method and ice dyeing method. You will learn: planting indigo, harvesting the leaves, ice dye method, salt rub method, propagating from cuttings, seed saving and more!
All-Access

2 Lessons

Handpainting with Natural Dyes

Kathy Hattori

Yarn painting is one of the easiest ways to put natural colour on yarn. The colour choices are endless and the way that colour moves through the skein is fascinating and beautiful to our eye. Learn to handpaint yarns and fibres with natural dyes.
All-Access

1 Lesson

Indigo Dyeing

Kathy Hattori

Join in the magical world of indigo dyeing with Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors! In this presentation, learn about working with indigo dyes and creating an indigo vat, including tips and troubleshooting help, followed by a Q&A session at the end.
All-Access

31 Lessons

Natural Dyeing Basics

Caitlin ffrench

Learn how to use natural dyes with plant and animal based fibres. Instructor Caitlin ffrench guides you through all the steps of natural dyeing – how to scour, mordant and dye your materials (and the importance behind each step), along with the best dyeing practices for your home or studio set-up.
All-Access

12 Lessons

Natural Dyeing Study Guide

Felicia Lo

A 10-week study group plan to work through the SOS natural dyeing courses and content on a week-by-week basis.
All-Access

1 Lesson

Plant a Natural Dye Garden

Caitlin ffrench

Join in learning to grow your own dye garden and safe wildcrafting natural dye plants with Caitlin ffrench.

DYEING WITH FIBRE REACTIVE DYES

Are you looking to learn how to dye cotton and cellulose fibres with vibrant, long-lasting colours? In these courses, we’ll show you how to use fibre reactive dyes for dyeing cellulose-based fibres and fabrics with ease. Learn the step-by-step process and get creative with your fabric designs! Get ready for an exciting journey of colour exploration!

All-Access

13 Lessons

Fundamentals of Fibre Reactive Dyes

Felicia Lo

Learn the basics of dyeing cellulose yarns and fabrics like cotton, linen, and hemp with fibre reactive dyes. Coming from a strong background in working with acid dyes, Felicia Lo will be looking at how fibre reactive dyes are different from acid dyes and how the processes differ.
All-Access

11 Lessons

Shibori Dyeing Basics

Mariana Frochtengarten

Shibori is a Japanese resist dyeing technique that employs folding, binding, clamping, and pole wrapping to create areas of resist. This dye process can be used to create repeated patterns in fabric and when worked in multiple layers of dye, can produce intricate, mesmerizing fields of colour. Join Mariana in this workshop to discover the basics of Shibori with fibre reactive dyes!

DYEING POSTS

Hand-dyed yarn at the SweetGeorgia studio

15% off SweetGeorgia Discount

Use our members-only coupon code to get a discount off your yarns and spinning fibres at SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Felicia Lo June 28, 2023

Undyed Yarn & Fibre Suppliers

Here are some suppliers and sources of undyed yarns and spinning fibres

Felicia Lo August 22, 2018

Reference Books for Dyers

These are a few of my favourite reference books over the years, and a great place to start building a dyer’s library!

Felicia Lo August 22, 2018

Dyes for Wool, Silk, & Protein Fibres

In our dyeing courses, we use a combination of WashFast Acid and Lanaset dyes which can be purchased from the suppliers listed below.

Felicia Lo July 18, 2018

#sosdyeing

Continuing on the dyeing journey with Charlotte @charlotte_milkteacup, rinsing and spinning dry. Learn more over at the SOS Dyeing Large Amounts of Yarn course!

www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com
#sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingyarn #handdyedyarn #dyeingworkshop #yarndyeing

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Open

Continuing on the dyeing journey with Charlotte @charlotte_milkteacup, rinsing and spinning dry. Learn more over at the SOS Dyeing Large Amounts of Yarn course!

www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com
#sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingyarn #handdyedyarn #dyeingworkshop #yarndyeing

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Plans & Projects

When dyeing all the fabric this month, I did have plans. Sometimes projects don’t turn out and I need to pivot. This can be sad and sometimes an unexpected delight. When making by hand, I have to stay flexible.

I always try to have a plan before I start as I don’t want to craft or dye just for the sake of making. True, I believe in sampling and not everything needs to be something. That is how I play and learn. But I always try to use the item for something after the fact. Doesn’t always work but I try.

Now that I am done dyeing, I am reflecting on the initial plans and where I need to pivot. For this month of dyeing, I have already made two dresses which was the plan. The third dress will now be a quilted jacket, this is a pivot in the project and in how I dyed it. The canvas was gonna grow up to be a backpack for an upcoming trip but since that trip is days away, that won’t happen. But it still may be a backpack, I am unsure now, I have to think about it. The cotton muslin will be for embroidery (along with any scraps from all mentioned projects).

This will keep me busy (on top of all the other crafting I do lol). I think next summer I will focus on wool and yarn dyeing. But as always, plans can change, we will see!

Pictures are in order: cotton, canvas, plaid cotton, linen

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeingwithflowers #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #naturallydyed #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyeing

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Plans & Projects

When dyeing all the fabric this month, I did have plans. Sometimes projects don’t turn out and I need to pivot. This can be sad and sometimes an unexpected delight. When making by hand, I have to stay flexible.

I always try to have a plan before I start as I don’t want to craft or dye just for the sake of making. True, I believe in sampling and not everything needs to be something. That is how I play and learn. But I always try to use the item for something after the fact. Doesn’t always work but I try.

Now that I am done dyeing, I am reflecting on the initial plans and where I need to pivot. For this month of dyeing, I have already made two dresses which was the plan. The third dress will now be a quilted jacket, this is a pivot in the project and in how I dyed it. The canvas was gonna grow up to be a backpack for an upcoming trip but since that trip is days away, that won’t happen. But it still may be a backpack, I am unsure now, I have to think about it. The cotton muslin will be for embroidery (along with any scraps from all mentioned projects).

This will keep me busy (on top of all the other crafting I do lol). I think next summer I will focus on wool and yarn dyeing. But as always, plans can change, we will see!

Pictures are in order: cotton, canvas, plaid cotton, linen

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeingwithflowers #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #naturallydyed #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyeing

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Canvas

Oh, almost forgot to share. I also had three leftover pieces of canvas which I dyed with the eco printing remains bath and gave one piece an iron dunk.

I also had some madder dyed canvas. The madder exhaust bath was so weak, the camera couldn’t pick up on the subtle warmth in the colour. But I did get a different shade in the iron.

So I just took a picture of the eco plant remains and madder dyed canvas together.

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeingwithflowers #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #naturallydyed #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyeing

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Canvas

Oh, almost forgot to share. I also had three leftover pieces of canvas which I dyed with the eco printing remains bath and gave one piece an iron dunk.

I also had some madder dyed canvas. The madder exhaust bath was so weak, the camera couldn’t pick up on the subtle warmth in the colour. But I did get a different shade in the iron.

So I just took a picture of the eco plant remains and madder dyed canvas together.

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeingwithflowers #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #naturallydyed #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyeing

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Gradient

Remember that super blotchy marigold fabric I dyed?? I took it most of it and cooked it in that pot of eco-printing remains.

Then I made a 2% iron bath and put some of the fabric in. I staggered the times on when it came out to get different degrees of saddening.

I still have blotchy fabric but in a gradient of colours now. And there are even more colours within in piece of cloth because of the blotchy spots.

The plan is to make a patchwork quilted jacket. When I fussy cut the squares, it won’t look blotchy but intentional.

I am very happy with these results!

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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Open

Gradient

Remember that super blotchy marigold fabric I dyed?? I took it most of it and cooked it in that pot of eco-printing remains.

Then I made a 2% iron bath and put some of the fabric in. I staggered the times on when it came out to get different degrees of saddening.

I still have blotchy fabric but in a gradient of colours now. And there are even more colours within in piece of cloth because of the blotchy spots.

The plan is to make a patchwork quilted jacket. When I fussy cut the squares, it won’t look blotchy but intentional.

I am very happy with these results!

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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Proud

Of course I used the Shift dress pattern by Wiksten again lol. Since I’ve already sewn this pattern twice this summer, I can practically sew it in my sleep.

This was dyed with madder extract from maiwa_naturaldyes , at a very low WOF and a light iron bath. Then the fabric was eco-printed with fresh flowers and plants I grew on my balcony with seeds from grandprismaticseed

The fabric was actually in two different-sized pieces that came from a scraps bag also from Maiwa. I had just enough yardage for a dress 😊 For the eco-printing to look even, I laid one piece of fabric over the other with some flowers face up and face down before rolling and steaming.

I hacked the pattern again so all three of my dresses would be just a little bit different. This dress is the top pattern, cut at a high waste, and I pleated the extra fabric for the dress portion which is about 3” wider than the top and has no slit at the sides. Oh, and no pockets (only because I didn’t have enough fabric lol).

I learned almost all of my natural dyeing and growing a dye garden from schoolofsweetgeorgia with instructor ffrench . Highly recommend!!! I also took tips from Kathy Hatori from botanicalcolors who also teaches hand-painting yarn at the school (lots of tips still work on fabric!) *I also read an insane amount of books and blogs on natural dyeing.

There are a few things I could point out that went wrong but I won’t. I’m just so pleased with how it turned out. Lots of firsts here too. I’m proud to wear all my mistakes and all my firsts!!

(Oh and yes, I still won’t iron my garments before a photo shoot 😂 a wrinkled mess, that’s me!!)

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers #maiwanaturaldyes #botanicalcolors #sewing #grandprismaticseed #shiftdress #wikstenshift #wikstenpatterns #handmadewardrobe #handmade

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Proud

Of course I used the Shift dress pattern by Wiksten again lol. Since I’ve already sewn this pattern twice this summer, I can practically sew it in my sleep.

This was dyed with madder extract from maiwa_naturaldyes , at a very low WOF and a light iron bath. Then the fabric was eco-printed with fresh flowers and plants I grew on my balcony with seeds from grandprismaticseed

The fabric was actually in two different-sized pieces that came from a scraps bag also from Maiwa. I had just enough yardage for a dress 😊 For the eco-printing to look even, I laid one piece of fabric over the other with some flowers face up and face down before rolling and steaming.

I hacked the pattern again so all three of my dresses would be just a little bit different. This dress is the top pattern, cut at a high waste, and I pleated the extra fabric for the dress portion which is about 3” wider than the top and has no slit at the sides. Oh, and no pockets (only because I didn’t have enough fabric lol).

I learned almost all of my natural dyeing and growing a dye garden from schoolofsweetgeorgia with instructor ffrench . Highly recommend!!! I also took tips from Kathy Hatori from botanicalcolors who also teaches hand-painting yarn at the school (lots of tips still work on fabric!) *I also read an insane amount of books and blogs on natural dyeing.

There are a few things I could point out that went wrong but I won’t. I’m just so pleased with how it turned out. Lots of firsts here too. I’m proud to wear all my mistakes and all my firsts!!

(Oh and yes, I still won’t iron my garments before a photo shoot 😂 a wrinkled mess, that’s me!!)

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers #maiwanaturaldyes #botanicalcolors #sewing #grandprismaticseed #shiftdress #wikstenshift #wikstenpatterns #handmadewardrobe #handmade

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No waste!

Yesterday I cooked up all the remains I picked off my eco printed fabric. Why waste good dye stuff when there is still life in it!

Today is my last dye day of the year! (Let me say here, this dye pot smells incredible!!!)

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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No waste!

Yesterday I cooked up all the remains I picked off my eco printed fabric. Why waste good dye stuff when there is still life in it!

Today is my last dye day of the year! (Let me say here, this dye pot smells incredible!!!)

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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Cooked!

Wrapped, steamed and cooled 😎 The unbundling is happening now!!

See you later today 😉

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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Cooked!

Wrapped, steamed and cooled 😎 The unbundling is happening now!!

See you later today 😉

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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One more!!

One more picture because it’s my Instagram and I can post if I want to 😂

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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One more!!

One more picture because it’s my Instagram and I can post if I want to 😂

#plants #growingplantsfromseeds #balconyplants #pottedplants #dyeplants #flowers #grownfromseed #dyegarden #harvestingflowers #dyeflowers #linen #ecoprinting #ecoprintingonfabric #sosdyeing #schoolofsweetgeorgia #dyeingwithplants #dyeing #naturallydyed #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithflowers

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