Columbia Gorge Natural Dyes

The Eastern edge of the Columbia River Gorge, with its dramatic cliffs, rolling grasslands, and windswept hillsides is barely two hours from Portland, Oregon – yet, when you are there, it feels a thousand miles away. The area is home to an abundance of native plants valuable to natural dyers, such as Oregon Grape, lupine, juniper, and bitterbrush. This workshop explores both the landscape on the edge of the Eastern Gorge and its rich and unusual dye plants. This one-day workshop leads students on a tour of unexpected color from native and invasive plants, with hands-on lessons in plant processing, fiber preparation, and of course, dyeing! We will use non-toxic mordants, plant and animal fibers (cotton, wool, and silk) to create a journal of swatches and samples, recording the late spring colors of the Columbia Gorge. Students will also take home a dyed silk scarf and cotton bandana.

This workshop is hosted in collaboration with the White Salmon Wildflower Festival - see their website for a full list of programming celebrating the natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge!

This workshop will be held on private property in White Salmon, WA. An exact meeting location will be emailed with more details to students one week prior to the class.