Botanical Printing: Leaves, Cloth, & Natural Impressions
Botanical printing is a beautiful and surprising process that captures the natural pigments, tannins, and shapes of leaves and plants directly onto cloth. In this two-day workshop, students will explore the fundamentals of eco-printing using seasonal leaves, natural fibers, moisture, pressure, heat, and time.
Participants will learn how to prepare and mordant cloth, select and arrange plant materials, bundle their work, and process their pieces through steaming. We will focus on how different leaves, fibers, tannins, iron, mordants, and natural dyes influence the final print. The process encourages experimentation, observation, and a willingness to let nature have a voice in the finished cloth. Students will create four sample patterns and one finished bamboo rayon scarf.
The workshop is process-focused, giving students the knowledge and confidence to continue exploring botanical printing at home.
Students will be introduced to:
- Basic principles of botanical printing and eco-printing
- How to mordant cloth for botanical printing
- How different leaves, tannins, iron, mordants, and fibers affect results
- Layout and design approaches for arranging leaves
- Bundling techniques for clear impressions
- Steaming and processing methods
- How to create botanical prints using iron and tannin
- How to add a natural dye-colored background
- Safe handling of pots, heat, plant materials, and natural dye processes
- How to evaluate results and continue the practice independently
Supply List:
- Apron or old clothes
- Scissors
- Old towel
- Notebook and pen
- Heavy flannel material for blanket cloth, approximately 2 yards
- Fabric for printing, cut into 14″ x 24″ sample sizes; students may bring silk, linen, cotton, or other natural fibers, 2 pieces total
- Optional: one additional natural-fiber scarf to print
- If bringing an optional scarf, please also bring enough heavy flannel to create a printing blanket at least 2″ longer and 2″ wider than the scarf
- Four 16″ wooden dowels, 1″ diameter
- Four ACE bandages
- Medical latex gloves 4-5 pair
- 6 mil painter’s plastic from Home Depot or similar
- Plastic bag or container for carrying damp work home if needed
- Leaves or plant materials from their own garden, especially eucalyptus, maple, oak, rose, sumac, smoke bush, blackberry, or other tannin-rich leaves
About the Instructor
Suzanne Connors
Suzanne Connors is a fiber artist, educator, and founder of Aya Fiber Studio and Aizome Studio. Her teaching focuses on traditional and contemporary textile processes including indigo dyeing, shibori, katazome, botanical printing, and surface design. Suzanne teaches small-group workshops designed to help students understand process, material, and technique while developing their own creative voice.
Registration Information
Session Length & Date:
September 22nd and 23rd, 2026 (2 sessions)
- 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Skill Level:
- Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced (All Levels)
Class Size:
- Maximum Students- 10
Class Fee:
- $280 for non-members + $50 supply fee
- $252 for BRMAA members + $50 supply fee
Instructor Name:
- Suzanne Connors
