Our first online talk of the academic year will be from Ria Burns. Bristol based knitwear designer,  natural dyer and author will be joining us to talk about her work, her book ‘Dyeing Yarn Naturally’ and her passion for making garments that are sourced as locally as possible.

‘Dyeing Yarn Naturally’ is the debut book by Ria Burns, published in April by The Crowood Press. It’s a step-by-step guide to dyeing yarn from start to finish, aimed to be accessible, informative but also inspirational. It’s the culmination of years of research and creative experimentation into natural dye plants and their wide spectrum of colours that Ria has undertaken in order to create bright, long lasting shades for her knitwear brand.

As well as talking through her book Ria will give an insight into her wider practice and explain why and how she has chosen to work in a hyper local way, sourcing wool from a local farm and growing the majority of the dye plants in her back garden. Ria works in fashion, but follows a plant-led, rather than trend-led approach to design.

If you’re interested in making in a sustainable way or wanting to know about the natural dye process or even starting your own dye garden, this talk is going to be a wealth of information. We look forward to seeing you in the audience online.

Book your ticket here: https://theloomshed.com/calendar-event/ria-burns-dyeing-yarn-naturally/

As part of the Fibreshed exhibition programme at New Brewery Arts, in Cirencester, Ria will be giving a talk and Q+A about her practice.

Soil-to-Soil: A Regenerative Approach to Designing Knitwear

Ria is a knitwear designer whose efforts to develop fully traceable and sustainable knitwear have led to her developing a holistic, soil to soil approach to design and making. From sourcing her wool as locally as possible, to becoming an accidental horticulturalist by growing her own plants for natural dyeing, to designing zero waste garments to be cherished, looked after and passed on; in this talk she will take you through her journey, showcase her work and provide some practical tips on sustainable knitwear making.

Tickets £8. Book here: https://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/ria-burns-fibreshed-talk

Jennifer Hunter from Fernhill Fibres and member of the South West England Fibreshed organisation discusses her regenerative farming and fibre practices and life with 3000 Shetland-cross sheep.

Bookings: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jennifer-hunter-fernhill-fibre-tickets-414218116537

Regenerative ‘Wool Market’ with Woodchester House Yarns, Fernhill Fibres, Botanical Inks, Ria Burns Knitwear, Louise Amelia Phelps & more

Ria will be giving a talk about her knitwear practice at Fibre Quest at Fernhill Farm on Sunday 19th March at 2pm.

https://www.facebook.com/events/626681488615575

Soil to soil: a sustainable approach to designing knitwear

Ria is a knitwear designer whose efforts to develop fully traceable and sustainable knitwear have led to her developing a holistic, soil to soil approach to design and making.

 

From sourcing her wool as locally as possible, to becoming an accidental horticulturalist by growing her own plants for natural dyeing, to designing zero waste garments to be cherished, looked after and passed on; in this talk she will take you through her journey, showcase her work and provide some practical tips on sustainable knitwear making.

Ria has been invited to be the guest speaker at the West of England Herb Group’s July meeting.

Held online, Ria will be giving a talk on botanical dyes, discussing how she grows a variety of natural dye plants, and how they can be applied to wool to create a spectrum of colours.

Tickets are £4 for non-members.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/botanical-dyes-with-ria-burns-tickets-155754651355