Saturday, 19 July

Intro To Botanical Dyes (Day Workshop)

Come join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn about botanical dyes and create your own beautiful dyed fabrics!

By SILT

Date and time

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 10:00 - 15:30 GMT+1

Location

SILT, Unit 6 St Georges Works, Silver Street, Trowbridge, UK

Silver Street Trowbridge BA14 8AA United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

Agenda

10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Morning Session: Preparing fabrics, colours and dye processes

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch Break

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Afternoon Session: Using modifiers and mordants, creative possibilities

About this event

Event lasts 5 hours 30 minutes

A fun and informative day workshop on botanical dyes!

This in-person event will be held in our beautiful studio: SILT, Unit 6 St Georges Works, Silver Street, Trowbridge, UK.

You'll learn processes for natural dying using foraged/grown plants and kitchen scraps, explore ancient methods of extracting colour from these botanical sources and discover the magic of transforming fabric. During this hands-on, immersive day in the studio, you'll learn about substantive and fugitive dye-plants, make dye baths to see colour changes and variations. You'll produce samples in various tones and take home your fabric swatches at the end of the day.

The day covers a range of botanical dyes, fabric types, mordants and processes. You will experiment with modifiers and see how plant colours alter, shift and intensify with different additives. We'll discuss creative applications of these methods and concepts around sustainability and art making.

The structure is:

10 - 12.30 Morning session

12.30-13.30 Lunch (there are various cafes very near the studio, or you can bring a pack lunch)

13.30-15.30 Afternoon session

Tea and coffee provided throughout the day.

Beginners welcome.
Limited spots available, so sign up now!
Small group setting.

Led by Anna who uses these processes in her art practice. Questions welcome

Organised by

SILT

SILT is a studio and community hub for ecologically aware image and colour research set up by Anna Chrystal Stephens and Alison Ballance. We run in-person workshops for use of our facilities, public events, talks and exhibitions.

All elements of our programme relate to environmentally focused art practice. Processes and materials used and made in the space range from analogue photographic images developed with non-toxic plant based substance, paints, inks and dyes made using ecologically safe ingredients, textiles made with foraged or repurposed materials.