Eco Print Dyeing with Elaine Hamblin

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Eco-Print Dyeing as Mending Workshop Bring a lightweight natural fiber garment with a stain and give it new life through the beautiful process of eco-printing and natural dyeing. This hands-on workshop focuses on community-based dyeing practices that blend creativity, sustainability, and repair. Please wash your garment prior to class in a fragrance free detergent or soda ash. No fabric softeners please as they will inhibit the absorption of color. Lightweight garments, no heavy sweats of sweaters please. Together, we’ll explore the fundamentals of working with plant-based dyes on natural fibers, using techniques like bundle dyeing and eco printing to transform old textiles into something new. You’ll learn: How to dye cellulose fabrics (cotton, linen, hemp) naturally Scouring: how to prepare fabric for dye Selecting plants for color, contrast, and pattern Creating a dye bath using plant materials Eco printing: pressing leaves and flowers to transfer their pigments Come immerse yourself in the beauty of botanical color! BIO: After studying fine arts at CCA(C), Elaine Hamblin pursued her passion for art-to-wear—costuming for local dance companies, working as a design assistant for multiple Bay Area designers, and developing a line of hand-painted fabrics and apparel. This path led to an extensive career in the apparel industry, where she led technical design teams in San Francisco and New York—all while indulging her love for treasure hunting unique and curious objects. Elaine founded KOSA, a small batch artisan made apparel, with attention to craftmanship, with natural materials and dyes.