The First Shoots of Spring in My First Dye Garden

Would you like to learn how to grow your own natural dye plants? On February 19th 2026 I’m running an online workshop all about starting your own natural dye garden - whether you have a large garden or a small balcony. Learn more and sign up here…

Now the winter has mostly gone I'm ready to get started on growing my first natural dye garden. Seeds have been sown and are starting to sprout - we have chosen the classic primary colours or red, yellow and blue (madder, weld and woad respectively) along with some floral favourites, such as coreopsis and sulphur cosmos.

Coreopsis Tinctoria Emerging

Below is the plan for my tiny city garden at home - very kindly made by my garden designer mum. We are going to build raised beds to maximise the space, light and accessibility, and put plenty of pots around the patio and on the decking. Work on this should start next month!

Dye Garden Plan

I’m hoping to also use a patch of my Mum's much larger garden in Surrey for some of the more space consuming crops. Next week I will help swap my knitting tools for a spade and fork, and help turn the overgrown patch of brambles into a productive dye growing space.

Over the last month I've been busy dyeing and knitting stock for my first London fair. If you are in or near London, I am exhibiting my botanically dyed British wool knitwear this weekend at the Contemporary Textiles Fair, Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington.