Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring sodium alginate fibres, a seaweed-derived material with exciting possibilities for bio-based textiles. We’ll introduce you to the properties of sodium alginate, explore how it behaves, and demonstrate how it can be transformed into fibre and yarn.
You’ll have the opportunity to discover how this bio-polymer can be used creatively. Alongside guidance and suggested projects, there will be plenty of free time to develop your own ideas and experiment with the medium.
We encourage you to bring a tool that could support your process; additionally, we will provide crochet hooks, knitting needles and macrame patterns to use and create with throughout the workshop.
Event details:
Date: 17 September 2026
Location: ASCUS Lab, Summerhall, Edinburgh
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Ages: 16+
Tickets: £18 / £15 concession
Concessions: Students, people on low incomes, unemployed people, pensioners, and disabled people.
What Are Sodium Alginate Fibres (Bio Yarn)?
Sodium alginate fibres, sometimes referred to as bio yarn, are a seaweed-based textile material made from sodium alginate, a natural polymer extracted from brown seaweed. When combined with a calcium solution, the alginate forms a gel-like fibre that can be shaped, dried, and developed into yarn-like structures.
These fibres offer an alternative way of thinking about conventional textiles, providing an opportunity to explore how renewable, biological materials can be transformed into new forms of fibre, fabric, and design.
Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring sodium alginate fibres, a seaweed-derived material with exciting possibilities for bio-based textiles. We’ll introduce you to the properties of sodium alginate, explore how it behaves, and demonstrate how it can be transformed into fibre and yarn.
You’ll have the opportunity to discover how this bio-polymer can be used creatively. Alongside guidance and suggested projects, there will be plenty of free time to develop your own ideas and experiment with the medium.
We encourage you to bring a tool that could support your process; additionally, we will provide crochet hooks, knitting needles and macrame patterns to use and create with throughout the workshop.
Event details:
Date: 17 September 2026
Location: ASCUS Lab, Summerhall, Edinburgh
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Ages: 16+
Tickets: £18 / £15 concession
Concessions: Students, people on low incomes, unemployed people, pensioners, and disabled people.
What Are Sodium Alginate Fibres (Bio Yarn)?
Sodium alginate fibres, sometimes referred to as bio yarn, are a seaweed-based textile material made from sodium alginate, a natural polymer extracted from brown seaweed. When combined with a calcium solution, the alginate forms a gel-like fibre that can be shaped, dried, and developed into yarn-like structures.
These fibres offer an alternative way of thinking about conventional textiles, providing an opportunity to explore how renewable, biological materials can be transformed into new forms of fibre, fabric, and design.
