Natural Yarn Dyeing Masterclass

Natural Yarn Dyeing Masterclass

With Ria Burns

Saturday 2nd - Sunday 3rd August 2025

Hosted by Ria Burns, this two-day masterclass takes a deep dive into natural dyeing with British wool yarns, for beginners or those with some dyeing experience looking to hone their skills.

During the two-day course, participants will learn how to prepare yarn for natural dyeing to get the best results, understand how different British wool yarns behave in the dye pot, and learn how to produce a vibrant range of colours from homegrown and foraged plants, and food waste.

£210.00

Book Now

About the masterclass

On day one, participants will prepare yarns for dyeing by making hanks and undertaking the preparatory steps of scouring and mordanting. They will also be taken on a British wool ‘breed exploration’ exercise, dyeing several different British wool yarns with plants and food waste to see how they vary in the dye pot.

On day two, the prepared yarns from day one will be dyed a spectrum of colours using a range of plants and modifiers. There is also a chance to explore alternative methods of applying natural colour to yarn through bundle dyeing.

Participants will leave with lots of samples, notes, and knowledge to continue their natural dyeing journey at home. This workshop is hands-on, communal, and collaborative, with plenty of opportunities to learn from Ria’s vast experience and knowledge of working with British wool and natural dyes.

About Ria Burns

Ria Burns designs and makes sustainable knitwear in Bristol and launched her brand in 2018. She makes small batches of artisanal clothes from local, traceable wool. After hand dyeing her garments with homegrown and foraged native plants, she handmakes each piece to create a locally made, long-lasting, and unique product that works with, not against, the environment.

Ria’s knitwear is designed for longevity and is made to be cherished, looked after, and passed on. Everything she makes is local and traceable, following the Fibreshed approach of creating soil-to-soil textiles, meaning her knitwear is made from natural fibres and is biodegradable. She also supports regenerative agricultural practices by sourcing her yarn from farms that practice this farming method.

She teaches, lectures, makes and supplies other small businesses with her naturally dyed yarn, and she services knitting machines that need a deep clean!