Making Natural Dyes with Local Plants – Workshop

Olana’s Hudson Valley landscape is brimming with natural dye potential. Identifying local plants for their natural dye properties opens a palette of wildcrafted and foraged color and deepens our relationship to the land. In this introductory natural dye workshop, participants will work with local plant dyes that produce beautiful color on biodegradable fibers like cotton, linen, hemp, silk, and wool.
During this special Arbor Day workshop, artist Katrina Rodabaugh will guide attendees in creating several hues of natural dye using various fibers and mordants. In honor of Arbor Day, this workshop will focus on dyes produced from local trees like black walnut, oak, maple, sumac, or pine. This program is best suited for beginners curious about using local plants and for intermediate dyers who want to deepen their practice. Participants will leave with dyed fiber samples, a pamphlet with resources and step-by-step instructions, and the confidence to continue this work.
Katrina Rodabaugh is an artist, writer, and teacher working across disciplines to explore environmental and social issues through craft techniques. Mostly, she rethinks the relationship between fiber art, sustainability, and fashion. She’s the author of three books including Make Thrift Mend (2021) and Mending Matters (2018). Her writing and artwork have appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Martha Stewart Living, Selvedge Magazine, Sunset magazine, Taproot magazine, and more. She lives with her husband, two sons, thirteen chickens, honeybees, and many plants in the Hudson Valley of NY. Learn more about her work here.