Madder Root: A Botanical Dye Workshop

Join us during Maine Craft Weekend in Belfast for a botanical dye workshop with professional fiber artist Jude Hsiang. This 3-hour workshop invites participants to learn about the ancient and continuing art of using natural materials from plants, insects and minerals to permanently dye a wide range of fibers. This class may be of special interest to quilters as we will dye cotton fabrics with madder (Rubia tinctorium) a classic dye plant that can be grown in Maine and gives a range of shades from pinks to reds to purples. Other fibers and dyes will be sampled, and all are welcome to join the fun. The instructor will share knowledge gained in her many years as a natural dyer through finished works, dye record books, and samples of dyestuffs. Note taking and photos are welcome. A resource handout will be provided.

About the instructor: Jude Hsiang has been dyeing with natural materials for 45 years and teaching the craft for 12. She is particularly interested in exploring the use of Maine-grown fibers—wool, alpaca, mohair, angora, linen, and hemp—that are spun in Maine by hand or local mills. She grows a dozen or so varieties of dye plants in her Central Maine garden and forages more in the wild. She also uses traditional dyes and fibers from around the world. A knitter, weaver, and stitcher, Jude enjoys putting her results to work in an array of items and selling naturally dyed yarns.