Yardage to Runway with Karen Rose
March 3–5, 2027
Yardage to Runway: Folded Roses, Fabric Design & Wearable Art with Karen Rose
If you love distinctive clothing and dream of creating fabrics unlike anything available commercially, this workshop offers a truly exciting opportunity. Join acclaimed fiber artist Karen Rose as she shares her proprietary Folded Roses technique—a fascinating process she has carefully developed and refined over many years.
Using a unique folding and pleating method combined with fiber-reactive dyes, students will create stunning patterned fabrics on silk, viscose, and nylon. The technique is remarkably versatile, allowing for endless variations and producing beautiful results quickly, making it possible to create multiple yards of one-of-a-kind cloth in just a few days.
Students will begin by exploring and practicing the Folded Roses process, discovering how subtle changes in folding, pleating, and dye application can dramatically alter the final design. As confidence grows, participants will create increasingly complex and personal fabric designs while learning to document their process for future success.
Once beautiful yardage has been created, Karen will demonstrate simple and elegant ways to transform hand-dyed fabrics into wearable art. Students will explore scarf-to-garment construction techniques and learn several easy clothing designs that showcase their newly created textiles. Minimal sewing experience is required, and many projects can be completed with simple hand stitching.
Silk will be provided to begin the workshop, and additional silk yardage and scarves will be available for purchase. Participants are also welcome to bring their own silk fabrics or scarves to dye and transform.
Whether your goal is creating unique scarves, wearable art garments, or simply exploring a new approach to fabric design, you'll leave with beautiful hand-dyed textiles, practical construction ideas, and a technique you'll continue to use long after the workshop ends.
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Karen Rose's proprietary Folded Roses technique
Pleating and folding methods for fabric pattern creation
Dye application using fiber-reactive dyes
Working with silk, viscose, and nylon fabrics
Creating repeatable and unique design variations
Documenting successful processes and color combinations
Transforming scarves and yardage into wearable art
Simple garment construction and hand-sewing techniques
Design principles for artistic clothing
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Perfect for fiber artists, surface designers, garment makers, quilters, dyers, and anyone interested in creating unique fabrics and wearable art. Some basic hand-sewing ability is helpful, but no advanced sewing experience is required.
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Multiple yards of hand-dyed designer fabric
Hand-dyed scarves and wearable textiles
Samples documenting technique variations
Simple garment patterns and construction methods
The confidence to continue creating wearable art at home
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A hallmark of Karen's teaching is her signature Folded Roses technique—a proprietary approach to folding, pleating, and dyeing fabric that produces extraordinary patterns and richly textured surfaces. The process is both approachable and highly versatile, making it possible to create beautiful custom fabrics for wearable art in a surprisingly short amount of time.
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A detailed supply list will be provided prior to class. Students should expect to bring fabrics suitable for garment construction (mostly silk) , sewing supplies, and basic sewing tools. a list will also be posted on the website once class makes enrollment.
Student Supply Lists and Materials Guide<br/> — Aya Fiber Studio→
