Transfer print decorated with organza bonded applique. Being able to colour/dye and print your fabric is very important if you want your work to be different. In my teaching I strive to help my students create original work. It is my passion. So this session is very important, dyeing natural fabrics (Viscose, cotton, silk)with procion dyes and synthetics with disperse/transfer dyes. It takes a lot to organise but is soooo worth it.     The group sorting all their fabrics and putting them in their plastic bags. Learning how different types of fabric take the dye is great fun. I use the dyeing in a plastic bag method for this. We don't need yards of fabric to give us the information we need. I use Ruth Issett's book Colour on Paper and Fabric for all the dye recipes. It is now out of print but can still be bought quite reasonably. I always refer to Ruth's books, having done several summer schools with her, I know her systems work - she is the Queen of Colour...

Fabric printed using torn painted transfer papers and torn resists. I had a great three days in rural Essex this week. Transfer printing is rarely the top of anyones list for a workshop, which is a great shame. It is such a simple and exciting form of printing. 'Transforming Transfer' is one of my favourite workshops to teach - we always get fabulous results. Disperse dye is the dye used to permanently colour synthetic fabrics. Because the dye is first applied to paper then transferred by heat to the fabric, they have become known as transfer paints. The dyes I use are in powder form and I make them up and store them in glass jars - always wear a particle mask when working with dye powders. Once the dyes are no longer in powder form you won't need to wear a mask. When working with any dye it is best to wear gloves and an apron. The group painting their papers. Fantasia Textiles Studio is run by Norah Stocker, a great bundle of energy. The studio is a C...