Natural Dyeing for Handweavers with Debbie Tomkies

Join master natural dyer Debbie Tomkies for an immersive, hands-on course exploring the art of natural dyeing specifically for handweavers. This course is designed to deepen your understanding of colour, fibre, and process, and to give you the confidence to dye your own warps and wefts for weaving.

Over the course, you’ll learn how to prepare fibres, hand paint warps using natural dye extracts in a wide range of colours and apply a range of traditional dyeing techniques to achieve rich, harmonious hues. Debbie will share her extensive knowledge of working with natural dyes, including how to plan palettes and create subtle variations and depth in handwoven textiles.

This course is ideal for handweavers who want to integrate natural dyeing into their practice, whether you’re new to natural dyes or looking to refine your approach. Expect a relaxed, supportive atmosphere, plenty of practical experimentation, and thoughtful discussion about sustainable, place-based textile making.

Over the weekend, expect to learn:

• Fibre preparation and mordanting for weaving yarns
• Working with a range of natural dye extracts
• Colour planning for warp and weft
• Achieving consistency and variation in dyed yarns
• Caring for naturally dyed textiles
• Dyeing a set of sample cards – an invaluable reference for future projects
• Dyeing a warp to your own colour scheme
• Using various techniques to dye yarns for your weft
• As always, we will provide a delicious lunch and plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits to keep the creative energy flowing.

As always, we will provide a delicious lunch and plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits to keep the creative energy flowing. Let know if you need our list of local accommodation to stay in gentle Mid Devon for the weekend.

This workshop can be paid in instalments – £130 now and the remaining £100 by 5th May.

If you need support planning and weaving your beautiful warp and weft after this workshop, The Loom Shed’s Weaving Retreat 9 – 12 July might be a great addition to this fab workshop.