A Day of Blue

Last Thursday we hosted another live natural dyeing workshop using Woad, a traditional plant dye known for producing beautiful shades of blue.

It was a hands-on day filled with curiosity, learning, and plenty of moments of wonder as the colour slowly came to life. The day started with preparing the fabric, scouring it carefully so it would be ready to take the dye evenly.

Then came the heart of the workshop: making the woad vat. Woad is a fascinating dye because the fabric does not turn blue in the vat itself. Instead, it emerges through oxidation, meaning the color develops as the cloth meets the air.

Visitors watched as the fabric moved from a ecru in the vat to a rich blue outside it. With each dip and exposure to air, the shade deepened, creating layered, natural variations in color. Once the desired depth was reached, the fabric was rinsed and left to dry, revealing the final result: unique, vibrant blues with character and depth.

The workshop was a wonderful reminder of the beauty of slow craft and traditional dyeing techniques. It brought together history, science, and creativity in a way that felt both inspiring and memorable. Natural dyeing with woad is more than just a process — it’s an experience, and one we were delighted to share at the mill.

Are you interested in finding out more about Natural Plant Dyeing? 

Stay tuned for our upcoming Live Natural Dye workshop at the Mill in the coming weeks!