The Southeast Ohio Fibershed recently organized a dye session at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center’s fall event, Witch Walk, on October 30, 2026. Board Vice President, Sasha Sigetic took this opportunity to reach out to our community, and set up a hands-on demonstration of dyeing with locally grown plants.
Members of our board and friends provided several types of dye vats and a flower pounding experience! Board member Coral Wedel, provided pre-mordanted fabric pieces printed with the SEOhio Fibershed’s logo for participants to dye, and we have plenty logo pieces leftover for another dye session next year.
The Dairy Barn’s Weaver in Residence, Aubrey Jo Blue of Contemporary Hand, supplied and demonstrated the indigo vat process, which provides the deep blue we often associate with denim jeans.
Sasha pulled together a marigold dye vat using marigold flowers she grew and some collected from Board member, Erin Hogan. Marigolds give a gorgeous deep yellow on items dyed in it, and this vat was beautifully intense!
Lisa Heinz, Founder and Board President, supplied a fresh walnut vat that Sasha managed alongside the marigold bath. Walnut dye gives a beautiful rich brown color.
Board Secretary, Avery Snyder and Coral grew and supplied leaves and flowers for the flower pounding experience. This part of the event was a huge success with visiting kids!
This inaugural Southeast Ohio Fibershed dye event brought at least 30 people together to learn about dyeing fabric with plants. Five adults and twelve kids pounded flowers and leaves into the prepared fabric pieces. Eight people brought their own items to dye, and at least ten visitors stopped to talk about dyeing with plant-sourced dyes.
Part of our mission directs us to share our knowledge of regional textiles through educational events like this. They create opportunities for both kids and adults to learn about their Fibershed community, and possibly pick up a new skill or interest in our local textile ecosystem. In this case, participants learned how to add beautiful non-toxic color to fabric.
As we approach the end of the year, please consider a Southeast Ohio Fibershed membership to help make more of this work possible. If you’d prefer a more impactful contribution, please consider a tax-deductable donation toward the work of the Southeast Ohio Fibershed, a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
We are very grateful for the support of our fibershed community and look forward to working and sharing more with you in the next year!
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