Course Overview

Materials

As you progress through each lesson, a dedicated materials list will be provided for each step, along with suggested suppliers.
The list below provides an overview for the whole course
Your tutor Emma can provide further information and guidance at each step if you have trouble identifying or sourcing individual ingredients

Suggested Suppliers:


Course equipment kits available , Dry Material, Equipment The Gathering Table https://www.thegatheringtable.co.uk/shop , 
Fish Glue: Conservation Resources https://conservation-resources.co.uk/products/fish-glue 
Cow Glue Stuart Stevenson https://shop.stuartstevenson.co.uk , 
Dry Dye Material and lake Livadenn https://www.livadenn.fr . 
Gum Arabic Mystic Moment . https://www.mysticmomentsuk.com/products/gum-arabic-powder-resinoids-gums-crystals
Dry Dye Material Bailiwick Blue, https://bailiwickblue.com , 
Dry Dye Material Green’ing , https://www.green-ingredients.com/en , 
Dry Dye Material and ingredients Wild Colors , https://www.wildcolours.co.uk , 
Dry Dye Material and ingredients George Weil, https://www.georgeweil.com, 
Aluminium Sulphate, Sodium Carbonate Inoxia, https://www.inoxia.co.uk/, 
Dry Dye Material and ingredients Aikuma, https://aikuma-japan.com/ , 

 

Materials: Minerals and Chemicals

  • Aluminium Sulphate – 200 g
  • Sodium Carbonate – 100 g (plus additional 11.25 g for specific recipes)
  • Oxalic Acid or Tartaric Acid
  • White Vinegar – 225 ml
  • Demineralised or Distilled Water – approx. 400 cl (plus extra for rinsing/storing)
  • Gum Arabic (used as a thickener)
  • Cow Glue (used as a stabilizer)
  • Fish Glue (used as a stabilizer)
  • Thymol Oil (optional, for preservation)
  • Synthrapol or Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) – for cleaning fabric

Plant Materials

  • Fresh plants gathered as part of the course, or dried plant matter which can be purchased (for pigment extraction)

Equipment for preparing and processing

Please ensure all equipment used is dedicated non-food equipment only

  • Access to a heat source (e.g., hob, stove, or hot plate)
  • Cooking pots (at least 2–3, heatproof cooking pots suitable for a stovetop).
  • Metal or glass bowls for measuring and weighing plant matter and minerals
  • Hand blender (for blending plant matter and mixing)
  • Blender (for dry plant matter)
  • Thermometer (for monitoring temperatures)
  • Digital kitchen scale (for accurate measurement of ingredients)
  • Wooden spoon or spatula (for stirring and scraping pigment)
  • Metal spoons (for measuring/picking up minerals)
  • Mini whisk (optional, for mixing paint)
  • Ladle or syringe (for removing clear liquid after settling)
  • Funnel
  • Sieve (for initial filtering)
  • Fabric or cotton filter (fine enough to catch pigment)
  • Material for assembling your own filter: (options for purchasing one is available if you do prefer not to make one yourself)
      – Cotton bedsheet
      – 20 cm cotton webbing
      – Sewing materials or sewing machine
      – Access to printer (for template)
  • Tall jar or vase
  • Several large glass jars with lids (for dye liquid and storage)
  • 1 L+ container with lid (for mixing)
  • Small plastic pots or jars (for weighing/storing pigments)
  • Paint palette (for mixing)
  • Drying rack or equivalent space to hang fabric to dry.
  • Bamboo or fabric steamer (e.g., bamboo steamer)
  • Washing machine (optional, for rinsing fabric)

Safety and Protection Equipment

  • Apron or protective clothing
  • Protective gloves (chemical and heat-resistant, rubber kitchen gloves should be suitable)
  • Dust mask or respirator (for powders)
  • Labels, masking tape, and markers (for jars and samples)
  • Dedicated non-food equipment only

Optional Tools for Creative Work

  • Embroidery hoop (for painting on fabric)
  • Frixion pen (optional, for stencils)
  • Scissors or craft knife
  • Spray Bottle
  • Set of brushes (various sizes)
  • squeegies
  • screen stencil
  • vinyl adhesive paper
  • Screen printing Kit
  • Craft knife and cutting mat