Mindful Colors: Natural Dyes and Sustainable Textiles from Korea and Beyond
This course invites students to explore the meditative and eco-conscious practices of natural dyeing, with a focus on Korean and other traditions.
Not scheduled right now. Last taught 2026.
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The workshop
This course invites students to explore the meditative and eco-conscious practices of natural dyeing, with a focus on Korean and other traditions. Emphasizing mindful engagement, students will work with traditional natural dyes—such as indigo and other plant-based pigments—rooted in Korean and other East Asian heritage. Techniques will include resist dyeing, hand-stitching, and sustainable papermaking.
Participants will take home a completed color chart book, hand-stitched Bojagi patchwork samples, and handmade papers created using recycled dye materials. The course will also include fresh indigo dyeing using plants harvested from Sanborn Mills Farm’s dye garden.
This course is ideal for individuals seeking to merge art, science, and cultural heritage through the transformative power of natural dyes.
Skills and techniques
- Learn to prepare and maintain natural indigo vat
- Experiment with two different fabric patterning techniques from Asia, including shibori and soy resist printing
- Practice hand-stitching methods rooted in Bojagi (Korean patchwork)
- Learn various shades of colors mainly from Korean/East Asian traditional natural dyes
- Indigo (Blue)
- Gardenia fruits pod (Yellow)
- Safflower (Pink)
- Gromwell ( Purple)
- Persimmon/Kakishibu ( Brown / Black)
- Stamping process (Tatakizome) with fresh harvested plants from the dye garden
- Experiment the papermaking process with natural dye materials
Before you come
Details for students
Where
One of the farm's studios, confirmed at check-in. See the campus
Staying on the farm
Housing, meals, the daily schedule, and places to stay nearby are on Prepare for your workshop.
Your instructor
Questions about this workshop, housing, or meals? Email registrar@sanbornmills.org or call (603) 435-7314. Please read the workshop policies before you register.