Class Title: Finding Your Regional Color Palette, Foraging to Make Dyes
Instructor: Michael Spurgeon
Tuition: $150/Members $170/Non-Members
Class Dates: September 26-27, 2026
Times: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (with 1hr. lunch)
Place: Pacific Textile Arts classroom
Number of Students: Minimum: 7 Max:10
Materials fee: $85
Class Policies
Send an email to classes@pacifictextilearts.
Send your name, contact information and which class you want to register for so that you have a place saved on the roster.
Class Description:
What amazing dye materials can you find within a 100-mile radius. This
class is a great way to find your color palette by growing or foraging
materials in your area to make dyes. There are many ways to make and use
the materials you may find and with the addition of different tannins,
you are able to expand your colors and help make them more light fast.
Each student is going to bring at least one kilogram of dye material
that they have foraged or have grown. The mornings will be used for
making dyes and dying fabrics. The afternoon sessions will be used for
making pigment lakes and learning how to store them and use them. Cotton
and wool fabrics will be used for dyeing.
Materials List:
One Kilogram of collected/grown dye materials–The PTArts Class Host
will be reaching out in advance of the class to coordinate about the
materials that are collected and shared in class.
BIO:
I have been using natural dyes and teaching workshops for more than 40 years. I have a great interest in local color palettes.
Mother Nature provides many materials that we can use for dyeing. Now, for the past 8 years, I have been using mushrooms from across the
world to produce colors that I dye with. I turn that yarn into knitted socks and hats. I find natural dyes are rich in hues and go together well. I
look forward to learning new plants that I have not worked with before.
Questions: Email classes@pacifictextilearts.org