Irish Knitting Tour, textiles

The Making of Day 9, Ireland Knitting & Craft Tour; Natural Dyeing w/ Rachel Bingham Kessler in the Burren at the Michael Cusack Center & Farewell dinner at the Old Ground Hotel

Little did I know that in October 2021 while visiting the Burren and conducting dye experiments that I would planning such a trip for THIS October! I must have been subconsciously manifesting this trip. I will be heading out to the Burren from Maine next month and I am so excited to be scouting out wild dye sources for us. I’ve already locked down two Irish grown wool breeds for us to use *HAPPY DANCE!* On this last full day of our time together, we’ll be enjoying the deep dive into natural dyes and how to coax the colors from various local plants onto wool yarns and wool and silk fabrics for printing. Blue bells and fuchsias make beautiful prints on both wool and silk- just a wee hint what we may be using. And it’s mushroom season too. Are you excited yet?!?!?

But I’m not sure what I’m most excited about, our workshop itself or where our workshop will be held….. The Michael Cusack Center in Carron, Co. Clare right in the heart of the Burren. I could not have imagined a more perfect setting for our day of exploring the local natural dyes.

Natural dyed samples from foraging in The Burren, October 2021

So, this morning, we’ll head north to a rural setting where you’ll take part in today’s workshop with Rachel Bingham Kessler. The focus of this full day workshop is on natural dyeing using local plants we foraged the day before. We’ll conduct various test dyes and I’ll walk you through my various eco printing techniques which print the color and shape of a plant and/or flower onto cloth. We’ll enjoy our lunch (included) & onsite.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel before enjoying a farewell dinner together.

Now that you’ve made it to reading about our last day together, be sure to give Maeve a call at KnittingTours.com for questions regarding the 44Clovers Tour and/ or to book your place. Reserve by 3/31/2023

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