Hedgerow Dyeing with the Woodland Haberdasher

A unique opportunity to spend a day with Fay Jones, the wonderful Woodland Haberdasher exploring all aspects of Hedgerow Dyeing and to have a go at cooking on fires to prepare our lunch while we leave the dyes to develop.

Plan for the day...

Fay and Judith will greet you with coffee, cake and a short introductory talk about dyeing and plans for the day. We will then set out to collect our dyeing materials from the trees, hedges and fields at Fire and Feast. On our return, fuelled with more refreshments, Fay will guide you through the elements of the dyeing process to create the earthy and vibrant tones that are the hedgerow palette. Our material for dyeing will be double knit yarn from the rare breed Norfolk Horn sheep supplied by Jenn Monahan from the Fibreworkshop. While the dye baths work their magic we will prepare and enjoy a two-course lunch cooked on fire, guided by Judith. There will be time for questions and conversations and an opportunity to savour the beautiful Suffolk countryside as you cook and dine. After lunch our attention returns to the dyeing process, where we will explore and experiment with the development and adjustment of tones using mordants, and the use of fixing agents. The day will conclude with a final opportunity for questions and discussion over tea. You will depart with you chosen makers kit to enable you to turn your dyed Norfolk Horn wool into a creation of your choice.

Kit choices:
Braiding Kit: wooden braiding disk, instructions for use and 100g dyed wool
Knitting Kit: knitting pattern for a hat or mittens created by Jen Monahan and 100g dyed wool.

Please come dressed suitably for the outdoors. On site parking available. 
Special dietary requirements can be catered for if advised in advance.

Your day long experience will include:

• Freshly made hot / cold drinks and a sweet treat on arrival, refreshments mid-morning and late afternoon

• Tuition throughout the day from Fay and Judith

• A foraging walk to gather materials for creating dyes

• All equipment and materials required for the dyeing process

• An opportunity cook and enjoy a two course campfire lunch with a

  selection of drinks

• A yarn kit to take home for either knitting or braiding – select your choice at booking

Fay Jones aka the Woodland Haberdasher is based near Harleston and believes there is nothing quite like exploring the world through the wonderful variety of materials it provides. She helps people to have a go at making their own everyday things to connection to past and future through materials, objects and processes.

Judith Mobbs is co-founder of Fire and Feast Suffolk and is the resident cook for our Saturday night suppers and Sunday brunch café. She also grows the onsite produce for the kitchen. She has been a fire cook for many years and enjoys experimenting with all types of fire cookery.