Learning to natural dye is not just an accumulation of techniques, but a pedagogy of perception, one that shifts in relationship to the materials with which it is working. Standardized industrial dyes may produce exactly the same result every time they are used, but a natural dye never does. Variables of temperature, water, fiber, and plant matter all influence the final result, and learning to natural dye requires attention to these variables in ways that industrial dyeing does not. This is a much slower pedagogy, one that values the amount of information learned over the amount of time spent learning it. With every immersion in a dyebath, the dyer must consider cause and effect, rather than simply memorizing a recipe.
Natural dyes also teach the dyer to attend to the material properties of fiber and plant. Different fibers will respond to dye differently, depending on whether they have been treated with chemicals, where they were grown, and how they were harvested. Similarly, the color of a plant can vary depending on the time of year it was harvested, where it was grown, and how the pigment was extracted. The natural dyer must learn to recognize and respond to these differences, rather than imposing a preconceived notion on the materials. After time, and enough repetition, some of these responses will become automatic, and the dyer will be able to recognize patterns and anticipate results. But it is only through the repetition of this process, rather than a simple adherence to a recipe, that mastery can be achieved, and this builds a type of confidence in the dyer that does not rely on dogmatic adherence to a formula.
Natural dyeing also necessarily incorporates an acceptance of its variability into its learning process. Because natural dyes are so contingent on a variety of factors, identical results are extremely difficult to achieve, even when the same steps are followed. Rather than this being a source of frustration, experienced natural dyers accept it as data, which can be used to modify techniques in the future. In this way, mistakes become another form of information, which inform the learning process, rather than simply something to be avoided.
Learning to natural dye also necessarily incorporates an understanding of the way that it relates to time. Some natural dyes require extensive periods of time to steep, ferment, or cure. Rushing these processes will compromise the final results, so dyers must learn to be patient, and accept that some things cannot be hurried. This process reinforces the idea that it is the steady application of practice that is important, rather than the speed with which it is applied. It is through an engagement with the materials that natural dyes are made from that one is able to learn to natural dye. This engagement reinforces an understanding of the importance of slow and deliberate work.
This process of learning is not just about training the dyer to dye fabrics and yarns, but also about training her perception and practices. An education in natural dyeing is also an education in patience, decision making, and a respect for process. Because of this, it is a mode of learning that is highly transferable to other practices and techniques.