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NEW YORK, NY 10011
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Design: Dowland

 
© 2011 Textile Arts Center LLC

 

Sewing Seeds History


The Sewing Seeds project started in 2010 with the mission of providing accessible, accurate, and inspired information on natural dyes to our community.

Why Natural Dyes? Prior to the development of synthetic dyes in 1856, color had been extracted from numerous plants, animals, and minerals for thousands of years. Today, few people are aware of the many sources of beautiful dyes nor the multitude of colors that can be achieved.

Sewing Seeds’ goal is to narrow the gap between the desire for and access to knowledge and materials regarding natural dyes, through:
  • Building Natural Dyes Living Libraries in public spaces, such as community gardens, to be used freely for education and research
  • Create an online resource on natural dyes that is freely available to a wide audience and can be used as a source of inspiration and of accurate information;
  • Connect individuals who are interested in natural dyes;
  • Lay the groundwork for the local production of natural plant dyes and naturally-dyed yarns;
  • Connect and partner with the wider Brooklyn community who are interested in slow food, urban agriculture, and local production.


In a first phase, Sewing Seeds started a collaboration with the community garden located on Carroll Street across the street from TAC, and in the summer of 2010 we were proud to use Brooklyn-grown dyes in our workshops and classes. In the spring of 2011, the community garden became the home of our first Natural Dyes Living Library, a collection of dye plants used as a reference and teaching tool. The Living Library included indigo, woad, japanese indigo, safflower, weld, coreopsis, dyers woodruff, lady’s bedstraw, and marigold. Each dye plant was individually labeled with the plant’s common and scientific names and the colors it produces.

Beginning in 2012 users will be able to find accurate information on natural dyes on TAC’s website, including history, recipes, scientific information, and suppliers while also connecting with artists and organizations who work with natural dyes. Much of this information has been gathered in the process of growing The Living Library and working with its dye plants.

For updates on Sewing Seeds, The Natural Dyes Living Library, our dye plant CSA, and the online database, please follow us at textileartscenterblog.com, where we will be blogging about the project’s most recent developments.

To get involved in Sewing Seeds or contribute with ideas or feedback, email Isa Rodrigues at isa@textileartscenter.com