Natural Dyeing of Alpaca Fiber – October 29, 2017

Come to Alpacas of Troy’s farm to learn how to use natural dyes to color your own yarn! This 3 hour workshop will provide participants with an overview of the milling process to create yarn from animal fiber and how to dye your yarn with natural dyes. We will gather some plant materials from around the farm to create dyes with and learn the proper way to scour and mordant yarn to affix the desired colors. Participants will be provided with 7 pre-mordanted sample hanks of alpaca yarn to dye for each dye pot. We will have additional pre-mordanted alpaca yarn available to purchase as well.

If you would like to purchase our prepared yarn, please include the number of ounces of yarn you would like in your ORDER NOTES section during checkout, so it can be prepared.  Yarn purchased will be $6.50 per ounce and you may purchase up to 16 ounces if you are not bringing any of your own (Participants are limited to one pound of dye-able yarn for this class due to dyeing pot limits.)  You will pay for the extra yarn the day of the class.

Participants are welcome to bring up to 8 oz. of undyed natural fiber (cotton, wool, silk, alpaca, etc…). If you choose to bring your own yarn and it is not pre-mordanted, the resulting color may not be as vibrant. As time allows, we can also explore further color possibilities through after bath mordanting and over dyeing. The workshop will be held outside so please wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, and prepare for the elements.

As always, a visit to the alpacas in included in the fun.