Craft Courses

Craft Courses - Natural Dyeing

Learning a new craft can be an uplifting and enjoyable experience. Located in the north Pembrokeshire countryside, our hands-on craft courses are held in a purpose designed Dye Studio. A perfect place for relaxation in the Preseli Hills or the nearby beaches (Newport and Poppit/Cardigan) whilst also broadening our crafting experiences. You can book your craft course from February to November 2022 at a time to suit you.

Learn how to hand dye protein fibres (animal fibres such as sheep wool, alpaca, yak and silk) or cellulose fibres (plant fibres such as cotton, linen, hemp and bamboo) using the traditional natural dyes. The craft courses are a hands on learning experience using ancient dyes such as Madder, Weld, and Cochineal, to name a few, in their natural form as well as extract.  You will leave with the knowledge to dye yarn and fabrics with lasting colour successfully to use in your projects at home. 

Craft Courses for beginners and those with some experience

These courses are suitable for complete beginners and those that have a little experience. They are the foundation blocks of good practice for you to build and develop your own natural dye journey.

There is a beauty and depth of colour to natural dye that becomes more beautiful with age. These courses opens the door to that world of colour and you will be amazed at the colours you will be able to produce using Nature and a little knowledge! 

Craft Courses - where are we?

We are based in the SA37 post code of north Pembrokeshire, Wales. Using the post code with Sat Nav takes you to a farm one mile away, so is not that helpful!! The exact location, with directions and a map will be provided well in advance of each workshop.

Current Craft Courses for 2022

We currently are offerings three courses from February to December 2022. Click on the links below for more details.

• Introduction Craft Workshop (protein fibres) – 1 day
• Introduction Craft Workshop (cellulose fibres) - 1 day
• Introduction Craft Workshops (protein and cellulose fibres combined) – 2 days
• All Craft Workshops in 2022

We are also planning to introduce hold half-day taster courses as well as more advanced courses on hand dyeing with indigo.

Craft Course Dates by Month in 2022

1. February
2. March
3. April
4. May
5. June
6. July
7. August
8. September
9. October
10. November

      

What to Expect

A 6 hour 'Introduction to Natural Dyeing Workshop', 10.00am to 4.00pm in the FelinFach Dye Studio. Your tutor will guide you through the basic principles and practice of natural dyeing using natural dye extracts, for example, madder, cutch, logwood and others.  Your Tutor will take you through the steps of natural dyeing from start to finish as well as creating the foundations for more advanced processes. The workshop includes includes all the necessary materials, including yarn, cellulose fibres and equipment including aprons and gloves.

You will take away a number of skeins of yarn or cellulose fibres that you have personally dyed. You will also have your Dye Journal Notebook and a file of information covering what you have learnt during the day. You will also be entitled to Post Craft Course email support.

Workshop Tutor

All the yarn and scarves for sale on this website have been hand dyed with natural dyes by the Tutor of these craft workshops - Hand Dyed Yarn  - Hand Dyed Scarves. See Feature in The Knitter magazine on hand dyeing and craft workshops in the FelinFach Dye Studio - Click here...

Craft Holidays in Pembrokeshire, Wales

We are based in the beautiful county of Pembrokeshire famous for its sandy beaches, rugged coastlines, Preseli Mountains and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This National Park, 180 miles of truly inspirational rocks, beaches and coves and is the only coastal National Park in the UK. 

Pembrokeshire is a major holiday destination in the UK providing an comprehensive array of holiday activities, including Craft Holidays where you can learn a new craft. Our craft classes and workshops are based on the natural dyeing of fabrics and the hand dyeing of yarn. We have one day and two day craft courses and also some half day 'taster' workshops.

Heritage Craft Courses and Workshops

Natural dyeing is without doubt one of the oldest heritage crafts with a history going back thousands of years to the Neolithic period, (12,000 to 5,000 BC). During this time, dyeing methods have changed little. In China, for example, there is evidence that natural dyeing with plants, insects and bark from trees was taking place over 5,000 years ago.

Our natural dyeing heritage craft courses are a modern day hands-on learning experience but still using the same basic ingredients and processes as in times gone by. Our courses use ancient dyes such as Madder, Weld, and Cochineal, to name a few, in their natural form as well as extract. We are a member of the Heritage Crafts Association which aims to protect heritage crafts such as natural dyeing.

About FelinFach

Our company, FelinFach Natural Textiles is located in the heart of the Preseli area of Pembrokeshire near to Boncath. We design Welsh blankets and the iconic Welsh Tapestry blankets which are traditionally woven at Welsh mills. We also design and make natural hand dyed yarn, cotton, silk and wool scarves and other handmade products, all available in our yarn store. We also offer Welsh tartans, Sheepskin Rugs, Gift Cards and tools and books for crafters and knitters - Cocoknits, Laine, Amirisu and Making to name a few! Lastly, craft workshops on hand dyeing with 100% natural dyes in the purpose designed FelinFach Dye Studio. We are a proud supporter of the Campaign for Wool, All Things Wales and Global Welsh.

Other Related Blogs

   Hand Dyed Yarn Craft Courses - Hand Dyeing with Natural Dyes

Last updates 10th March 2022