Forage to Fiber: Local Mushroom Dyeing

Discover the hidden colors of Southern Appalachia in this hands-on natural dye workshop! Join us to learn how to forage, identify, and extract vibrant, eco-friendly dyes from local mushrooms and lichens.

We’ll start with guided foraging tips, mushroom identification basics, and an introduction to natural plant and fungi dyes. Then, you’ll dive into hands-on fiber dyeing using wild-harvested WNC mushrooms and lichens to create unique, naturally dyed wool. Perfect for fiber artists, foragers, and nature lovers of all skill levels!

What You’ll Learn: 

• Safe Foraging Practices: How to ethically harvest wild mushrooms and lichens in WNC.
• Natural Dye Basics: How to scour, mordant, and prepare wool fiber to take rich color.
• Dye Extraction Methods: How to build a simple dye bath for wild fungi.
• Species Spotlights: Specific techniques for regional dye species in Southern Appalachia.

Each participant will leave with:

• Custom samples of mushroom-dyed wool fiber.
• A printed regional reference guide on identifying and preparing key local dye species.