Dye Workshop with Annelise Gorensek-Benitez
Cochineal: A Color to Dye For

The natural dye cochineal is famous for the blood red color it can produce. Given the right conditions, however, this versatile natural dye can adopt an even wider color palette. During this workshop, participants will explore how to shift the color of cochineal-dyed wool yarn using 20 different combinations of mordant and pH modifiers. Participants will then create a swatch card from their own samples to take home and guide future experimentation. The instructor will also provide a brief explanation—tailored to the interest of natural dyers—of how and why mordants and pH shift dye color. Previous mordanting and dyeing experience is helpful but not required.