Mordant Magic

With Ruth Baldwin

If you are interested in natural dyeing, this workshop will help you learn the mordant process–the important first step.

A mordant, such as alum, prepares fibers to absorb and maintain color. Whether you are refreshing your wardrobe or bringing new life to drab yarns, mordanting is an important step in maintaining your dyed material’s vibrancy.

In this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Work in your dye area safely and label samples.
• Prepare animal and plant materials for natural dyeing.
• Complete the scouring process for both materials.
• Use mordants and tannins.
• Measure mordants for amount of yarn or fabric.
• Complete the mordant process with alum and tannin.
• Uncover the benefits of curing (drying) your material before dyeing or dyeing immediately.

At the end of the workshop, you will bring home four small skeins and four small fabric pieces, ready to dye.