The Fashion&Business Club at the University of Brighton thoroughly enjoyed their Masterclass with Jenny KilBride MBE at Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft. Jenny started the day with a brief history of the museum and explained her role there, then introduced the first practical challenge: to dye skeins of wool using locally grown plants, such as nettles, dandelions and onion skins. While the dyed wool was hung up to dry in the sun, the group moved on to weaving, using table looms and samples of wool, raffia and string in various colours.
Having learned the basics of warp and weft, the young people enthusiastically wove patterns of their choice, introducing the wool they had dyed earlier, and created a collection of experimental and impressive swatches. It was a hands-on day that exceeded everyone’s expectations.