Discover the magic, art & science of natural dye

Learn the fundamentals of natural & botanical dye, from the very first beginning through to how to create your own voice using natural dyes, prints & colour-mixing.

In this online Natural & Botanical dye course you'll discover how-to:

  • choose the right fabric for different dye methods
  • what is a mordant & how to use it
  • hot dyeing, cold water dye, solar dyeing
  • eco-printing, bundle dyeing & resist-prints
  • simple indigo vat
  • Shibori & mark-making methods
  • how to make ink & paint using natural dyes (coming soon)
  • how to dye with avocado and loquat leaves
  • how to dye with eucalyptus leaves
  • making & using iron water in your dye pots
  • dyeing with different fibres, including animal & plant materials, as well as yarns, fabric & paper
  • how to work with mistakes, over-dye & think about colours in your dye pot
  • learn to embrace the innately unique beautiful aspects of the natural dye pot
  • includes videos, PDF downloads & ongoing access to all new content as I create it

Landscape & local colour

"Constantly inspired"

"I have learned so much and am constantly inspired by Ellie. Her online courses have given me so much knowledge and confidence to start to find my own creative voice. 'Natural & Botanical Dye' is one of my favourites."
- Pen

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Photo gallery

  • 2

    Introduction & before you begin

    • Tools, materials & resources

    • Ellie Beck Painting colour wheels with natural dyes

    • Natural Dye Booklet - beginner notes

    • Natural Dye Booklet High Summer

    • Making botanical inks Booklet

    • Natural dye for raffia
  • 3

    Solar Dyeing

    • Solar Dyeing - onion skins

    • Onion skins Bundle Dye Video 2

    • OnionSkin Solar Dye Video 3

    • Solar dyeing with flowers - coming soon

  • 4

    Eucalyptus Dye

    • Eucalyptus Dye Video 1

    • Eucalyptus Dye Video 2
  • 5

    Pinks & reds

    • Loquat leaves - earthy pinks

    • Avocado dye - coming soon

    • Madder powder - coming soon

  • 6

    Eco printing onto fabric or yarn

    • Bundle dyeing & eco-printing

    • Downloadable bundle & eco dyeing booklet

    • Eco-printing onto fabric using leaves from your landscape

  • 7

    Indigo Vat

    • Indigo - oxidising the powder

    • Indigo Video 2

    • Indigo Video 3

    • Indigo video 4

    • Indigo Video 5

    • Indigo info sheet
  • 8

    Shibori

    • Shibori Video 1

    • Shibori Video2

    • Shibori using Pegs Video 1

    • Shibori using Pegs Video 2

    • Shibori using Pegs Video 3

    • Shibori using Pegs Video 4

    • Itajami Shibori illustrations (folded Shibori)
  • 9

    Making Ink from plants

    • Mark making using natural plant dyes - Ellie Beck Petalplum

    • Ellie Beck Painting colour wheels with natural dyes

    • Ellie Beck Plant paint brushes

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