ATTENTION ALL BUDDING PLANT DYERS 🌱

natural dyeing 101

OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT

this self-paced online video course is ready to take you from overwhelmed and intimidated to confident, happy, and excited natural dyer in as little as one weekend!

are you worried about messing it all up?

intimidated by mordants or worried that they’re dangerous?

tired of being a chronic “researcher” instead of a doer?

maybe you've already tried your hand at natural dyes. does this sound familiar?

you’re a maker who gives a shit - you know that fast fashion is killing the planet, you’ve started making your own slow fashion wardrobe, and you want to make your home as eco-friendly and safe as possible because it’s good for the planet AND good for your family! and you really want to add natural dyeing into that mix - maybe you’ve been daydreaming about a new quilt for your kid’s bed made with a rainbow of homegrown colours, or dipping your stained linen shirt into an indigo vat (why did you buy that “natural” colour when you’re a magnet for spaghetti sauce?), or maybe you want to take your knitting colourwork to the next level with yarn dyed from your compost bin.

it’s a beautiful dream, but at this point you’re *this* close to giving up 😫 you’ve tried to dye things before - you followed the steps from that pinterest link, you saved up a month’s worth of avocado pits, and all you got was boring beige that faded in the first wash. you’re overwhelmed by how much there is to learn, no one seems to be talking about the local plants that grow where you live that might work (not that you have much of a green thumb anyway), and you live in a tiny apartment in the middle of the city. mordants intimidate you (what are they? are they safe? what do they even do?). you’ve read a million books, but you learn better with visuals and you want some colour references to help you plan your next projects. to top it all off, you’re pretty damn sure that there’s some sneaky white supremacy and colonialism at play somewhere in the history books of natural dyes, but no one’s talking about it and so now you’re nervous about accidentally using the wrong dyes too.

it’s no wonder you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to really start. no one’s giving you the tools that could actually set you up for success here, and instead you’re left with a stack of books full of confusing language, felted yarn, fabric in a million shades of beige, and a mess in your kitchen.

there are plenty of free natural dyeing tutorials out there for you to try. in fact, you’ve probably tried more than a few. and when they work and you get the colour you want, it feels fantastic! you’re magic! but then the colour fades, or doesn’t turn out how you expected, and you have no idea *why* because *no one tells you the science*. look, even when you’re a devoted plant witch, you know that the best magic often has some science backing it up. it helps us to understand what’s happening so that when something doesn’t work, we know where to look and what to tweak for our next experiment. if someone could break down the basic chemistry of natural dyeing so that it made sense (without you needing a science degree!), it wouldn’t matter if you were dyeing wool or cotton, with cochineal or goldenrod, because **you would know what to do for every step of the process.** and from there, you could continue learning and diving down whatever rabbit hole takes your next fancy, because you’d have the solid foundation for every dye pot after. and if someone could give you a list of places to buy your supplies and seeds, that would be a bonus, right?
no more overwhelm. no more waiting for the perfect house with the giant garden to get started. no more chronic researching instead of just doing. no more being scared and wondering “will i mess it up??”

let me tell you a story…

when i first started natural dyeing, **i dreamed of selling local wool from local farmers dyed exclusively with local plants** 🌱 a true fibreshed dream!
turns out it would take 5 years for me to gather the **resources**, **knowledge**, **experience**, and **connections** for that to become a reality. there just weren’t any resources for dyers living in a colder climate who wanted to dye with local plants! so i set to work teaching myself and finding those connections, learned way more about the **science** of natural dyes than the typical dyer, and now **i’m sharing it all with you**…
*p.s. how pretty is this rainbow of 100% local dyes (homegrown and foraged) on all-natural sock yarn, sourced and milled right in the canadian prairies?*

welcome to natural dyeing 101!

the self-paced video course for beginner to intermediate dyers looking to learn natural dyeing from start to finish! 🌿🌼🌻

in this jam-packed series of pre-recorded video classes, you'll learn:

the difference between plant and animal fibres and how to prepare each of them so that you get even, colourfast results every time
how to set up your dye studio even if you live in a tiny high-rise apartment
what mordants are, why they’re important, and the safe ones to use so that you can enjoy beautiful colours that don’t fade so quickly!
how to start identifying natural dyes in your own backyard so that you can enjoy a local rainbow no matter where in the world you live 🌱
basic safety considerations so that you can play with your dye pots without worrying whether you should be using up your whole stash of N95 masks
just what’s in your classroom?

part 1: making a (good) mess

**set up your studio** so that you can have oodles of fun without pissing off your partner (too much) or losing your damage deposit!
**safety 101** will keep you focused on fun instead of stressing about accidentally poisoning your fur baby with dye pot fumes
**understand the basic chemistry** of both animal fibres and plant fibres and **prep them properly** for colourfast results whether you’re dyeing wool yarn, a silk scarf, or cotton pillowcases!
**learn about mordants and tannins** - what they are, what they do, why and when you need them, and how to play with them for even more colours!
**dye with both natural dye pigments AND fresh local dye sources** so that you can enjoy the biggest natural rainbow possible 🌈
**forage for local dye plants ethically and sustainably** even (especially!) if the only plant you recognize is the dandelion in between sidewalk cracks

part 2: indigo 💙

learn how to make a work vat with me! we’ll cover how to:
**make** your indigo stock
**reduce** your vat
**add your stock** to the vat (the “goldfish method” 🐟)
**neutralize your ph** so you don’t damage your fibres

part 3: over the rainbow

**post-dyeing care** so your natural dyes stay vibrant and lovely as long as possible (and what to do after that)
**plan a natural dye garden** for your city apartment or country homestead even if you don’t have a super green thumb 🌱
**introduce all the fun of natural dyes to kids** so that you can have fun with the whole family!
**planting some thoughts** to wrap things up and set you on your merry way!

on top of all these video classes, you’ll also get:

immediate access to:

🎤 interviews with professional natural dyers across canada so that you can learn more about all the directions this hobby can take you

🖥 downloadable copies of natural dyeing as practice and natural dye care guide

📝 worksheets to help you retain important information

📚 a resource library containing reliable sources you can trust to help you continue your natural dyeing adventures

📦 sources for natural dye supplies in canada and the united states (with international shipping options) so that you can find everything you need in one place!

PLUS

🎁 lifetime access to your course material and resources list - there's no monthly subscription fee or expiry date, so once you've paid you have full access to your material forever!

💖 peace of mind that if life gets in the way, you'll be ok - this course is self-paced so you can go as quickly or as slowly through the material as you want, and revisit it any time you need

natural dyeing 101 is right for you:

if you’ve ever thought “i want to try but i’m overwhelmed with how much there is to learn!”, this is definitely the right course for you! videos are short, focused on all the important info you need for each step of the process, and you can come back to them as often as you want or need
if you’ve been intimidated by things like mordants and safety concerns, you’ll love the step-by-step classes devoted to every part of the process
if you've tried a few natural dyeing projects but ended up with colours that faded fast, natural dyeing 101 can help you deepen your knowledge so you have an easier time troubleshooting next time
if you've dyed a lot with purchased natural dye pigments and want to try working with local dyes, you'll love the classes about safety, foraging, planting a natural dye garden, and more!
if you want to learn about natural dyes within the context of bigger considerations like colonialism and climate change, you're in the right place

it's probably not the right fit...

if you hate messes and need your creative projects to have a 100% consistent outcome...this isn't the right place for you
if the occasional swear word upsets you, i recommend checking out my natural dyeing as practice ebook instead to help you get started on your natural dyeing journey

my promise to you:

your time is valuable, and chances are good that you feel like you’ve already wasted time on failed experiments with other natural dye “how to’s” from people who aren’t willing to share (or don’t even know) all the actual steps you need to do to start seeing consistent results.
fuck that noise. i want you to have ALL the knowledge you need in one clear step-by-step place to get over that overwhelm and get into the magic!
by the end of your *natural dyeing 101* classes, you’ll know:
🌿 how to safely and reliably dye both plant- and animal-based fibres with local dyes and popular imported dyes to make a full rainbow of beautiful colours
🌿 how to successfully make and dye with an indigo work vat
🌿 how to understand the basic chemistry to get colourfast results while making troubleshooting easier moving forward
…all while keeping sustainability, ethics, and decolonization at the centre of your work while still keeping things fun!
heads up, because you get access to all your material as soon as you sign up, there’s no money-back guarantee or refunds available. i know that if you put in the time and work through all the video classes that you’ll be successfully dyeing with natural dyes on plant AND animal-based fibres, and if you get stuck or have any questions (especially about local-to-you dyes), just give me a shout!

what’s the investment?

for a single payment of $299 CAD OR a 3-month payment plan of $109 CAD/month, you'll receive lifetime access to your videos and support materials!

if you have any questions before signing up, feel free to get in touch by sending us an email at hello.sunflowerknit@gmail.com!

meet your teacher

hi, i’m ash alberg!

i’m the hedgewitch and queer femme behind sunflower knit and from field to skin. a professional natural dyer since 2014, i have both a thriving business built around naturally dyed wool yarns and a deep personal practice focused on exploring the local colour palette in my home region, pembina fibreshed and treaty one territory.

i’ve been teaching natural dyeing for several years to both kiddos and kiddos-at-heart and am known for my unique approach to classes, with an equally heavy emphasis on the history, ethics, and sustainability around natural dyeing (hello, bookworm and academic nerd!) as well as how to work with both imported dyes (sappanwood is my forever love) and locally sourced fresh dye plants (my personal favourite even when i have to chase my dog away from my garden beds…no, willow, they are not “salad”…). i have a deep obsession with all-natural sock yarns dyed with local plants and think cochineal are the coolest bugs around.

FAQ

are natural dyes actually less toxic and better than synthetic dyes?

short answer: yes! they’re also different than synthetic dyes, require different care to maintain them over the longer term, and honestly if you just go grab any old (literally old) book of natural dye recipes off the library shelves, chances are pretty good that they are actually toxic. the way we dye now is different from how we dyed historically, from the mordants we use (no chrome here please!) to the dyes we harvest/purchase (if your brazilwood isn’t sappanwood, we’ve got a problem). also, devil’s advocate here, why exactly do you want your colour to stay the exact same for 20+ years? kathy hattori has made the analogy of natural dyes being the homemade muffin to synthetic dyes’ twinkie, and i’m inclined to agree with her. but don’t worry, we’ll chat all about that and about slow fashion sustainability in class…

how did you learn how to work with natural dyes?
i'm primarily self-taught, with opportunities to learn from others taken when i can. my practice has grown through extensive research from reliable books written by experts in the field, my own experiments, many many many hours of practice (we’re talking phd levels of time invested here), and several workshops taken over the years. i spent my earliest years learning from my then-mentor kelly ruth, and more recently was able to take workshops with aboubakar fofana and maiwa school of textiles thanks to the opening up of online classes during the covid-19 pandemic. my immediate geographical location has very limited options for extended studies outside of self-directed teaching, although we have a growing community of dedicated natural dyers who are wonderful co-creators in local colour studies. i believe firmly in continuing to learn and grow a practice no matter how long you've been at it, and intend to continue seeking out and learning from fellow natural dyers across the world over the course of my life. lately my studies have been on my ancestral dye traditions and exploring their modern sustainable variations on the land i live now.

are you going to show me how to get specific colours?
hell no. as you continue your own natural dyeing experiences, you'll learn more about how the various conditions inherent to natural dyes - the fact that they are sourced from living things, with uncontrollable factors like different growing conditions from harvest to harvest - make getting absolutely exact results time after time isn't feasible. it's also not where my personal interest lies, so i do not prioritize it. that being said, once you understand all those factors and how they influence your colours, you'll be able to run your own experiments to try and get visibly similar results and to tweak your dye pots accordingly.

can i get the same results for less money?
you will never learn everything about natural dyeing from a single source, including this course. that being said, if you've already wasted time, materials, money, and energy on diy "tutorials" you found on pinterest or half-gleaned from instagram captions, i can guarantee you'll learn a lot more from this course even if you never take advantage of the extra resources in your class materials.

that's fair. i still can't afford this course right now though.
that's totally fine. if you're looking for a more entry-level investment, check out my natural dyeing e-bundle.

i hate learning online.
cool beans, this is not the right class for you. all the material is hosted via pre-recorded video classes (transcripts to come) and the worksheets and resources are also all hosted online.

you've mentioned how colonialism is a factor in natural dyes. what does that mean?
the history of natural dyes, and how we value colour now, is deeply intertwined with colonialism. as a descendent of white settlers living on turtle island, my personal practice and its focus on my local colour palette is by necessity also rooted in active decolonization work. you can learn more about that with this resource list.

i'm uncomfortable with swearing. is this the right course for me?
probably not. there are scattered swear words throughout your video classes and if you truly care more about that than learning the alchemy of natural dyes, this isn't the right fit for you.

remind me what i get again?

🌿 **video classes** that take you step-by-step through natural dyeing and take the overwhelm out of the equation
**🌿 interviews** with professional natural dyers across canada so that you can learn more about all the directions this hobby can take you
🌿 downloadable copies of ***natural dyeing as practice*** and ***natural dye care guide***
**🌿 worksheets** to help you retain important information
🌿 a **resource library** containing reliable sources you can trust to help you continue your natural dyeing adventures
🌿 sources for **natural dye supplies** in canada and the united states (with international shipping options) so that you can find everything you need in one place!
**🌿 lifetime access** to your course material and resources list - there's no monthly subscription fee or expiry date, so once you've paid you have full access to your material forever!
**🌿 peace of mind** that if life gets in the way, you'll be ok - this course is self-paced so you can go as quickly or as slowly through the material as you want, and revisit it any time you need

still not sure if natural dyeing 101 is for you?

how you’ve been learning so far

🥀 you live nowhere near lush perfectly rich soil with u-pick fields full of indigo, madder, cacti full of cochineal bugs, or forests of sappanwood and logwood, which basically means you have absolutely no idea what plants to use for your local dye plants, never mind how the hell to grow or forage them

🥀 you’ve raided your local library and devoured every page of the natural dye book section, but you don’t actually know how to set up a space in your rented apartment to get started

🥀 you’ve seen a bunch of people you follow on instagram posting about their “wildflower botanical dyed yarn” and soy milk-avocado dyed t-shirts, but every time you try it you just end up with slightly stained clothes and felted yarn

🥀 you’ve taken a class with someone local who says they’re a professional natural dyer, but you haven’t actually ever seen them dye anything outside of that class and when your dyes faded after the first rinse, they couldn’t tell you why…

🥀 all the natural dyers you know seem to be straight white ladies dyeing cotton for quilts and never actually talk about their dyes, where they get them, or where they learned to dye so many colours. plenty of pretty pictures to inspire you and fill up your feed, but nothing actually substantial to help you learn!

what makes natural dyeing 101 different

🌿 living in zone 3 forced me to learn the science of my local dye plants and start improving my not-so-green thumb, and i teach you my tips and tricks so you can skip the endless afternoons of failed barely beige dye pots of random weeds you can’t name

🌿 books are great (there’s a whole list of fabulous ones among your resources for more learning later), but sometimes you just need someone to show you what goes where. natural dyeing 101 is all pre-recorded videos, so you can watch, rewind, and replay any lesson as many times as you need until it makes sense! (top tip: keep your computer/tablet/phone away from your dye pots while you’re practicing)

🌿 you’ll learn the chemistry step-by-step so you actually understand how natural dyes work (or don’t work!)

🌿 i’ve been dyeing professionally since 2014, sell my naturally dyed yarns around the world, have taught natural dyeing for the likes of vogue knitting and presented to the natural dyes in northeast america conference for industry professional dyers. i’m also a nerd who’s constantly learning more, and i share those lessons with you in the form of additional content whenever relevant.

🌿 natural dyeing has its roots around the entire world, everyone has some tie to ancestral dye plants and traditions, and i will never tell you to take my word as gospel (although i will show you how i put my yarn skeins in and out of my pots to avoid tangles). i will insist that you make a point of learning about different natural dyes in depth from the artists who have ancestral and cultural ties to them and give credit where credit is due. don’t worry, i’ve got a list of master dyers and studios, books about decolonization, and historical books shared in your resources to help you get started!