Natural Dyeing Workshop

Dye yarns with natural dye extracts in beautiful, nature-inspired shades at this dyeing class in Altrincham.


Debbie Tomkies
Debbie Tomkies
5.0 (2)

6 hours Class size 3 to 12 guests       £65 (PayPal Pay in 3 available)

Meet your tutor and fellow students

Meet Your Tutor and Fellow Students

Enjoy a cuppa while you meet Debbie and your fellow students.


Preparing yarns for dyeing

Preparing Yarns for Dyeing

Learn about the mordanting (fixing) process, how it works and what it does.


Create a rainbow!

Create a Rainbow

Explore our natural dye extracts and produce a colour rainbow that you will put onto sample cards as a useful reference to take home.


Explore fun techniques!

Explore Fun Techniques

Debbie will show you a range of exciting techniques to try and you can practice on your 50g skein of yarn.


Yarn painting

Yarn Painting

From yarn painting, variegated yarns, solid colours to fades, Debbie will guide you through the many fun techniques you can try.


Your first skeins

Your First Skeins

Once you have applied your colour you'll be able to see your yarns being 'cooked'. Once they're finished they'll be ready to take home.


Making your dye sample cards

Making Your Dye Sample Cards

While your yarns are cooking you'll be making up your dye sample cards to take home as a valuable reference for your dyeing journey.


Admire your work!

Admire Your Work

At the close of the day you'll be able to take home your sample cards, your beautiful hand dyed yarns, pattern and handouts.


Join natural dye expert Debbie Tomkies in her cosy Altrincham studio and discover how to create a palette of beautiful, organic colours using simple plant-based techniques. This full-day workshop is perfect for complete beginners looking to find a new creative obsession, while those with a little more experience will find plenty of fresh inspiration to explore.
You’ll begin with a friendly introduction to the heritage of natural dyeing, learning exactly where these vibrant extracts come from. Debbie will guide you through a variety of uplifting techniques – from achieving solid immersion colours and soft gradients to trying your hand at dip-dyeing, speckling, and hand-painting.
Once you’ve found your feet, you’ll get hands-on by dyeing a 50g ball of high-quality wool yarn. To truly make the experience your own, you can then select an additional 100g of undyed yarn from an extensive specialist range to customise using your favourite methods. Debbie will even share a pattern from her own design collection, ensuring you have everything you need to start a new project the moment you get home.
Everything is set up for you to enjoy a relaxing, low-pressure day of making:
  • All professional materials – including premium yarns and natural dyes.
  • Expert guidance – step-by-step instructions from a seasoned pro.
  • Creative take-homes – a selection of Debbie’s exclusive patterns to keep you inspired.
  • Refreshments – plenty of tea, coffee, and biscuits to keep you going.
You'll leave the studio feeling empowered by your new skills, carrying home unique, hand-dyed treasures that reflect your own style. It’s a wonderfully rewarding way to switch off and reconnect with nature through craft.
What you'll get
All materials are included - we provide quality materials - lovely yarn, dyeing instructions, and a selection of Debbie's own exclusive patterns. We also include tea, coffee, and biccies!
Knowledge required
This workshop is suitable for complete beginners, as well as those who already have experience with natural dyes.
What to bring
Lunch isn't included in this workshop, so please bring your own lunch/snacks. Alternatively, it's a short walk into Altrincham centre where there are lots of shops to purchase food.
Location

Studio 19, A4 Studios (The Engine Shed) - A4 Studios, Grosvenor Road, Altrincham WA14 1LE

We are easily accessible by public transport, being a short, level walk from Altrincham Interchange. There is some on-street parking close to the studios or behind the Interchange.

Natural Dyeing Workshop location
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Your teacher

Debbie Tomkies
Debbie Tomkies

5.0 (2)
female Women-owned

Hi, I’m Debbie, and I’ve been obsessed with yarn and colour for as long as I can remember. I learned to knit as a child, sold my first designs when I was 14, and I’ve basically had pointy sticks in my hands ever since (with a brief detour into Classics at uni and a dozen years working as a tax specialist — but that’s another story!).
These days, I spend my time writing, teaching and designing around all things textiles. I’ve written a handful of books, including 250 Knitting Stitches and Complete Knitting Skills, and for years I’ve written technique features and answered readers’ trickiest knitting questions for magazines like Knit Now and Simply Knitting. I also co-run DT Craft & Design, an online and mail-order textile arts business.
Teaching is one of my big passions — whether it’s running workshops in knitting, crochet, dyeing, felting or screen-printing. I’ve taught at places like Manchester Museum, the Knitting & Stitching Show, and guilds across the UK, and I love watching people discover just how creative they can be. I am also the tutor for our distance learning City & Guilds accredited design and handknitting programmes.
Along the way, I’ve popped up on BBC Radio Manchester, featured in Craft Business, and even appeared on BBC One’s Glorious Gardens from Above to talk about natural dyeing. I’ve also been involved in research projects, like recreating an 1815 dyeing manual with Leeds Industrial Museum.
And when I’m not teaching, writing or experimenting in the dyepot, you’ll still usually find me knitting — it’s both my work and my happy place.

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2026-07-24 15:00:00
class 1E57MXLBSX b30fa37a8c654059964d2a78c24cea95 production manchester Manchester North West GB manchester