In addition to offering sewing workshops, we have set up a group to highlight the feasibility of using natural dyes in Lancaster and Morecambe as a way to care for textiles and raise awareness of the toxic effects of chemical dyes on the environment and health.

We believe a better world is possible, we work to cross the borders of textiles by creating partnerships with different local groups working with agriculture, education and recycling. 

To inspire a model for what we should wear we have developed products with upcycled cotton which in 50 years or so ( if well looked after) can return to the soil and decompose harmlessly. You can support and buy our lovely products, including the amazing cowls at www.SewingCafeLancaster.com. All our labels are printed with walnut on cotton left over from curtain and roman blind linings from Tatty Gem.

We have been developing the idea of a natural dye garden at Claver Hill community growing food project, since 2015. It became reality during the first covid 19 lockdown, when our professional natural dyer, Katrina Barnish had the time to explore different techniques with our botanist Gina Frausin, who did research on our local plants. Our gardeners and dyers Enda O’Regan and Kathy Barton supported by Victoria Frausin and the rest of Sewing Café Lancaster’s team made the arrangements and made it happen.

We have planted around 20 species. We also had a natural dye camp out where we dyed with invasive species and leftovers from Clevar Hill. The material that we use to dye includes 100% cotton donated by Green Lancaster at Lancaster University. We first offer these to refugees, but if they are not claimed they go to the natural dye bath and are transformed into something else. This exemplifies conviviality by connecting different groups of peoples, plants and recycled material.

We permanently collaborate with Food Futures Network and a group in the Yorkshire Dales that is committed to propagating Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L), the larval food plant for the beautiful Brimstone butterfly that is not good at natural regeneration. In August we extracted the seed from this year’s crop and used the pulp and skins to create shades of green and yellows dyes.

Also following a donation of a tonne of onion skins from Organic Plus project, Ryton Organic Gardens at The Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR), we made an amazing bath of green dyes.

We work and will keep focusing on the questions of how we can encourage people to look after the textiles they already have and how we can bring together a local community to practice the skills of buying less and caring more –  because a better world is possible.To find out more about our products and other projects that involve recycling and composting, such as Reusables for disposables, Sew&Sow libraries, The Lancaster Textile Care Collective or Refugees and asylum seekers drop-in, get in touch via sewingcafelancaster@gmail.com or at our website www.SewingCafeLancaster.com