2025 registration now open
PREREQUISITE: NONE
TIMELINE:
Jan 1 2025: course launch
Dec 31 2026: access to all course materials & my support until this date
*The course may be completed per the eight week lesson schedule, or at your own pace. Students have two years of access to all course materials. List of lessons, equipment & supplies provided to students upon registration.
Early Bird Registration (prices available through december 31, 2024)…
Students with a billing address in Canada must register through this link, where the relevant Canadian provincial/territorial taxes (if any) are automatically collected and remitted to the government.
Early bird bundle (Module 1: Foundations + Module 2: Colour)
Students with a billing address outside of Canada must register through this link, where the relevant tax for the student’s jurisdiction (if any) is automatically collected and remitted.
Early bird bundle (Module 1: Foundations + Module 2: Colour)
there are no short cuts…
Beautiful, lasting natural dye results require understanding your fibres and preparing them properly. Great results require skill, skill comes from knowledge and practice, and knowledge and practice take effort and time.
Whether you are new to natural dyeing, or have experience, but are looking to engage in more structured, comprehensive learning, this Module is for you.
Under expert guidance, you will learn many historic and contemporary methods - from 2,000 year old recipes, all the way through to the instructor’s original research on highly effective plant-based mordants. Module 1 will help you master an extensive toolkit of fibre preparation methods for successful natural dyeing.
“I just finished the Guilded Module 1 course with Mel and absolutely loved it. I never imagined there would be SO much information in the course. It really teaches you the foundations of preparing textiles for dyeing in a way that sinks in and starts you off on the right track. Not only did it give me a real grasp on the science and processes involved but also drove home how important and valuable proper research and technique can be, how experimentation is critical to learning, and some very eye opening knowledge on the impacts of what we’re doing has on the environment, as well as the vast potential for natural dyeing to be beneficial to the world. The concept of putting historical practices side by side with modern techniques is illuminating and extremely fun. Mel has a wealth of knowledge and experience that is hard to find and I’m very grateful she created a course to help others on their path.”
Recipe book for dyeing wool, compiled in German by Abraham Dederix in 1653 (source: Getty Research Institute)
course structure…
This eight week intensive online course offers a more substantial education in proper fibre preparation for natural dyeing than is taught in many post-secondary fashion and design schools.
Each week, a new video tutorial(s) and downloadable pdf are available…
demonstrating and providing detailed instructions for that week’s fibre preparation exercise(s)
including relevant background reading (course material prepared by the instructor, as well as links to recommended online resources), for those who wish to delve deeper
the downloadable pdf handouts are yours to keep, and students will find this resource very helpful long after the course has finished
You will need 2- 4 hours per week, on average - i.e. to watch the tutorial(s), read the background information and instructions, and complete that week’s exercise(s). You may choose, instead, to spread out your time commitment to suit your availability.
additional resources…
In addition to the weekly written instructions, background reading, and instructional video, students also receive the following.
on registration, a list of the required equipment (basic items, many of which you likely already have), fabrics/fibres and natural dye supplies - the earlier you register, the more time you have to get organized
a list of global suppliers of fabric (undyed yarn, yardage, blanks), and natural dyes, mordants, etc.
templates for record keeping and for storing samples
a bibliography of high quality online historic and scientific resources related to natural dyeing
a list of recommended natural dye related books, and recommended blogs
what you’ll learn…
Learn to discern between the vast misinformation currently found on the internet (and, sadly, in some books) and natural dye materials and techniques proven to be reliable through the historic record and contemporary science.
proper dye studio safety practices
fibre types: both plant kingdom (cotton, linen, etc.) fibres, and animal kingdom (wool, silk, etc.) fibres are addressed, as well as at-home techniques to ensure accuracy of fibre content labels
historic, non-toxic bleaching methods
scouring: materials that can be purchased, grown, or foraged from around your home for thoroughly cleaning fibres in preparation for mordants and dyes
mordants…
what is meant by a metal ‘salt’ mordant, and how they are different from ‘heavy metals’ - it is common to see people online criticizing the use of metal mordants, based on their faulty understanding of basic chemistry
how metal salt mordants are produced, and why - though safe to use - the mining aspect of some production should be considered
historic methods, using traditional metal salt mordants that have been shown to be highly effective and safe (historic metal mordants that have been shown to be toxic are discussed, for thoroughness, but are NOT used in any of the course exercises) - also, the properties of alum, in particular, that have made it such a popular mordant for centuries around the world
historic methods that do not include metal salts
contemporary metal salt and combination mordant processes
how to work with a range of binders (an alternative to mordants) and mordant ‘assists’
mordant paste recipes, used to create surface designs on fabric for selective dye uptake, including how to combine different mordant print pastes for sophisticated dye results
the instructor’s latest, original plant-derived mordant research findings
curing/ageing mordanted fibres
what modifiers are, natural sources, and how to use them to significantly expand your dye palette
what assists are, natural sources, and to how to use them to protect your fibres, deepen colour, make insoluble pigments soluble in your dye bath/vat, and other applications
the crucial role of water source
control samples (not scoured, not mordanted) to demonstrate, on dyeing, the vital role of proper fibre preparation
proper documentation/records to aid in troubleshooting &/or reproducing results
how to revive, replenish, and safely dispose of your mordant baths
as noted, some purchased mordants, modifiers, and assists will be required for this course, but substantial attention is also paid to foraging and crafting some of these substances from what you have around your home and neighbourhood.
course results…
Well over one hundred fibre samples, prepared many different ways, in order to demonstrate the crucial role of different fibre preparation methods in effecting final dye colour.
You will have completed your record-keeping document to ensure that you know how each sample was prepared, and to allow you to recreate the results in future.
Each of your samples will be labeled (either using a simple, effective method taught by the instructor, or your own method), so that when multiple samples are dyed in the same dye bath/vat (in Module 2: Colour, or on your own), you will be able to accurately record the particular fibre preparation method, and the particular dye method, that give you a particular result.
You will feel confident understanding and using a large range of fact-based historic and contemporary fibre preparation methods that are the foundation of beautiful, colourfast dye results.
If you register for Module 2: Colour, in addition to learning a large range of historic and contemporary dye methods, you will also learn how to preserve and protect the results of your hard work in a dye sample binder/book that records all of the variables that produce your beautiful, dyed results.
values…
This course prioritizes your safety, ecological protection, proper technique, and respect for the amazing natural dye lineage of which we are just the latest participants. In addition, many DIY ingredients are taught, to help you re-localize more of your practice as an alternative to relying on high-priced products from natural dye suppliers.
In a world suffering from innumerable human-caused ecological catastrophes, natural dyeing is one tool for helping us to reestablish a meaningful, respectful partnership with Nature’s gifts and with our shared creative human heritage, and for aiding a global industrial transformation away from intensely polluting petrochemical-derived synthetic dyes to sustainable textile production.
