🌿 Dyeworks: Real Conversations – November 2026 to May 2027

Natural colour, shared experiences and the questions that bring us together.

A seasonal series of guided online conversations for natural dyers, textile artists, makers, teachers and anyone curious about working with natural colour.

Hosted by Jennifer of AppleOak FibreWorks & The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy.

✨ About the Series

Natural dyeing is full of discoveries, unexpected results and questions that don't always have straightforward answers.

Dyeworks: Real Conversations is a place to explore those questions together.

During the quieter months, we gather online to talk about the wider world of natural colour — from practical dyeing challenges and experimentation to developing our own creative practice, sharing knowledge and understanding the value of what we do.

What makes Dyeworks special is that the topics are chosen with our Academy community. Each year, we invite members to share what interests them, what challenges they're facing and what they'd love to discuss with other dyers and growers.

This means no two seasons are quite the same. Some years the conversations lean more towards the practicalities of running a dye business or studio, others towards creative exploration, growing, materials and techniques — and often we find ourselves somewhere in between.

These are not formal lectures or demonstrations. They're guided conversations shaped by the people who join us, bringing together different experiences, questions and perspectives.

No slides. No formal lectures. Just thoughtful, open conversations and shared experiences.

Whether you're experimenting at home, developing your own artwork, teaching or working professionally with natural colour, your perspective is welcome.

And there's no pressure to speak! Some people enjoy contributing to the discussion, while others prefer to listen, reflect and learn from the experiences of those around them.

📅 Our 2026–2027 Conversations

Wednesdays | 6.30–8.30pm (Ireland time) | Live via Zoom

Six conversations from November to May, with a little break over Christmas.

🌿 18 November 2026 — FREE OPEN SESSION

When the Dye Pot Doesn't Do What We Expected

We've probably all had one of those moments!

Unexpected colours, disappointing results, happy accidents and those moments when we're simply left wondering why did that happen?

We'll explore:

• Troubleshooting unexpected dyeing results

• What our mistakes and experiments can teach us

• Understanding the many variables that influence colour

• Sharing questions, experiences and possible solutions

This opening conversation is free for everyone in the Academy, including members of our free community.

🎄 December — Christmas Break

We'll take a little break during December and return in January.

🌿 20 January 2027

Finding Your Own Way with Natural Colour

How do we move beyond following recipes and learning techniques towards developing a practice that feels like our own?

We'll explore:

• Finding direction and developing personal interests

• Building confidence through experimentation

• Following our curiosity rather than prescribed approaches

• Discovering where natural colour fits into our creative lives

🌿 17 February 2027

Beyond Cloth: Dyeing Fibre, Paper, Wood & Other Materials

Inspired by a suggestion from our Academy community!

What happens when we take natural colour beyond textiles?

We'll explore:

• Working with unspun fibres, paper, wood and other materials

• How different substrates respond to natural dyes

• Preparation, application and experimentation

• Sharing experiences, possibilities and questions

🌿 24 March 2027

Sharing What We Know: When Are We Ready to Teach or Sell?

At what point do we feel ready to share our knowledge more formally or offer our work to others?

We'll explore:

• Experience, confidence and knowing when we're ready

• Sharing knowledge responsibly and acknowledging our sources

• Teaching, selling and communicating what we do

• Recognising that we're all still learning

🌿 21 April 2027

Consistency or Variation: What Are We Actually Aiming For?

Natural colour comes with so many variables. Plants, seasons, fibres, water and processes all have their say.

When is variation something to celebrate, and when do we need greater control?

We'll explore:

• The beauty and challenges of natural variation

• Understanding and managing colour consistency

• Expectations when dyeing for ourselves or others

• Balancing repeatability with experimentation and creativity

🌿 19 May 2027

The True Cost of Natural Colour

There is so much behind a finished colour that isn't immediately visible.

Growing, harvesting, materials, water, heat, time, experiments, failures, skill and accumulated knowledge all contribute to what we create.

We'll explore:

• The resources and labour behind natural colour

• Growing versus purchasing dye materials  Guest Speaker: Tristan Lienhard

• The value of time, experience and knowledge

• How we understand and communicate that value, whether dyeing for ourselves, teaching or selling

🎟 What's Included

Our November opening conversation is free for everyone in the Academy. You can join the free community here

From January through May, Dyeworks is included in Full Membership of The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy.

Dyeworks: Real Conversations

• Access to all five membership conversations, January–May 2027

• Live, guided discussions via Zoom

• Opportunities to ask questions, share experiences or simply listen

• Recordings of the conversations

• The complete archive of previous Dyeworks sessions

Plus access to our wider Academy programme:

• Indigo Week – our annual celebration of indigo, with talks, demonstrations, practical explorations and recordings

• Seed to Dye to Seed – our seasonal dye garden series, following dye plants from sowing and growing through harvesting, dyeing and seed saving

• Colours of the World  (starting in 2027) – our annual event exploring natural colour and beyond, traditions, techniques and knowledge from around the world, including demos, talks, presentations and more

• The Sukumo Project – our ongoing community journey through growing, harvesting, composting and fermenting Japanese indigo

• The Full Membership Resource Library – a growing collection of recordings, learning materials and resources to revisit throughout your membership

And, of course, the opportunity to connect with an international community of natural dyers, growers, artists and makers.

All included in your Full Academy Membership — no separate Dyeworks tickets required.

There are no individual session tickets to purchase.

🌿 Join Our First Conversation for Free

Curious about Dyeworks?

Our first gathering on 18 November 2026 is open to everyone in the Academy.

It's a chance to meet other dyers and growers, share experiences, bring questions or simply listen in and discover what these conversations are all about.

You don't need Full Membership to join this opening session.

Join our free Academy community and register for the November event.

🪴 Continue with Full Academy Membership

From January to May, Dyeworks becomes part of our Full Academy Membership.

Membership offers much more than these conversations. It's a place for ongoing learning, exploration and connection throughout the year.

Your membership also includes:

• The complete Dyeworks recording archive

• Seed to Dye to Seed Garden Series recordings

• Indigo Week resources and recordings

• The Sukumo Project

• Our growing Resource Library

• Other Full Membership events, talks and activities

• An international community of natural dyers and growers

Already a Full Member? You don't need to purchase anything again. Simply register for the individual events within the Academy.

✉️ How It Works

For the free November conversation:

1. Join the free Natural Dyers & Growers Academy community.

2. Find the November Dyeworks event and register.

3. Join us live via Zoom on 18 November at 6.30pm.

For the January–May conversations:

1. Join Full Membership of The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy.

2. Register for the Dyeworks events within the Academy.

3. Join us live via Zoom on the scheduled dates.

4. Revisit the recordings in the Full Membership Resource Library whenever you wish during your membership.

🌿 Come for the Questions, Stay for the Conversation

Dyeworks is about learning with one another, sharing what we discover and finding new perspectives on a practice that never stops teaching us.

You don't need to be an expert or arrive with answers.

Bring your curiosity, your experiences, your questions — or simply come along and listen.

We look forward to welcoming you into the conversation!