Natural Dyeing Workshop
Workshop with Jane Deane
Friday 17 October 2025, 10.30am - 4.30pm
£75.00
Venue: MAKE Southwest
Suitable for: Adults
Level: All Abilities
a Green Maker Initiative workshop
About Jane Deane
Jane works in textiles as a natural dyer who also hand spins and weaves, using mainly natural fibres, environmental concerns being a priority for her.
She has been practicing for 40 years and during that time has taught her skills internationally and throughout the UK.
In addition to working with commercially raised silk, Jane rears a few silkworms each year from the wild species of Giant Silkmoths. These live out their complete lifespan as the resulting silk is spun, not reeled, and the tiny quantity of fibre raised this way is used in special items. The caterpillars and moths themselves provide inspiration for design work as well as being a source of pleasure during their brief lives.
Indigo has a special place in her work and is among the dye plants she grows each year. She explores Japanese resist techniques, ‘katazome’ (rice paste) and the better known ‘shibori’. She is involved in natural dye research projects.
Jane teaches and talks about all aspects of her work and was for some years a guest speaker on the V&A textile courses.
She is co-author, with Alison Daykin, of Creative Spinning, a design book for hand spinners, commissioned by Gaia Press.
Join MAKE Southwest Maker Member Jane Deane for a Natural Dyeing Workshop!
How many colours can be had from a single dye?
This workshop will introduce the creating of a range of colours from a dye.
Using natural dyes and environmentally friendly mordants and assistants, we will see how many variations we can achieve from each dye!
This course is open to complete beginners or people with experience of natural dyeing.
All materials and equipment will be provided.
Participants must be aged 18 years +.
On the Day
All tools and materials will be provided.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are included and will be available on the day. There will be a short lunch break during the workshop and participants are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Our Café is also open should you wish to purchase other refreshments during the workshop - all participants receive a 10% discount voucher for food and drink purchased on the day.
On arrival, please make your way to the side gate of the Riverside Mill, through the courtyard and up the stone stairs on the side of the building. Please let us know if you require the lift.
Please be aware that you cannot use the Co-op car park for all day parking. The Methodist Church car park and Station Road car park usually have plenty of spaces. Click here for more information on our location and car parking for the day.
View MAKE Southwest's Cancellation Policy, HERE.