So far we have had a very busy summer of courses. We have just finished our last Fleece to Felt course for the year, but we still have day courses and weekend courses coming up. We have met so many wonderful people this year from
all over the world and part of the joy of running these courses is the chance to exchange ideas. After meeting a group of Australians on one of our Fleece to felt courses, I have started practising eco-dyeing and I’m completely hooked! Eco dyeing or printing (called both) originates in Australia where the Eucalyptus leaf is one of the plants used to produce amazing prints (India Flint). Eco dyeing uses the actual leaves or petals of the plant to print onto paper, silk , felt or other materials. The colour from the plant material then leaves its print on the material.
We tightly wrap the plant material in paper/silk or felt and steam or heat it over water (sometimes with plant material to make a light dye). The results are beautiful and exciting. Each time I unwrap a bundle it feels like Christmas!
So far I have tried printing with Copper Beach leaves, Maple, St Johns Wort, Heather, Rose petals and leaves, Sweet peas, Nasturtiums and more….next I am trying Lichen and Indigo with Maple, Beach and Delphiniums on silk.
