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Heritage Crafts

March 02, 2022 3 min read

Heritage Craft Courses and Workshops

Heritage Crafts - Natural Dyeing - Eco Dyeing

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.

Customers have asked us...

What is a heritage Craft?

We think a heritage craft is a skill or process that has been practiced by the human race over many, many years or even centuries. The skills and processes are by hand. Hand dyeing fibres with natural dyes is a heritage craft.

Is Natural Dyeing and Endangered Craft?

We think not as the interest in natural dyeing is growing. It remains a small part of the dyeing industry today but we believe demand is growing.

What Crafts are Endangered?

The Heritage Crafts Association of which we are a member, maintains the list of endangered crafts, known as the 'Red List'

Learn a Heritage Craft - Natural Dyeing - Eco Dyeing

Learn a craft - learn how to hand dye Protein fibres (sheep wool, yak, alpaca etc) and Cellulose fibres (cotton, linen, hemp etc) with natural dyes on our natural dyeing craft workshops in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The heritage 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. Located in the north Pembrokeshire countryside, our hands-on craft courses are held in a purpose designed Dye Studio. 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!

Our hands-on, practical heritage craft workshops are held in a purpose designed Dye Studio. There is a beauty and depth of colour to natural dyes that becomes more beautiful with age. Hand dyed colours, dyed with natural dyes may be repeated but they can never be exactly the same - part of the beauty of a handmade product!

Current Heritage Craft Workshops for 2022

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

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

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...

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 and shop. 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, heritage 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.

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Last updates 4th April 2022

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