The Modern Natural Dyer: A Comprehensive Guide to Dyeing Silk, Wool, Linen, and Cotton at Home

Description

Thousands of natural materials can produce glorious color - the insect cochineal produces pink, maroon, and purple, and more than 500 species of plants produce indigo blue. Now, in The Modern Natural Dyer, expert Kristine Vejar shares the most user-friendly techniques for dyeing yarn, fabric, and finished goods at home with foraged and garden-raised dyestuffs as well as with convenient natural dye extracts. Demystifying the "magic," Vejar explains in explicit, easy-to-follow detail how to produce consistent, long-lasting color. With stunning photography of the dyes themselves, the dyeing process, and 20 projects for home and wardrobe (some to knit, some to sew, and some just a matter of submerging a finished piece in a prepared bath), The Modern Natural Dyer is a complete resource for aspiring and experienced dye artisans.

Kristine Vejar is the owner of A Verb for Keeping Warm, a popular yarn store and natural dye studio in Oakland, California. A Fulbright scholar, she began her intensive study and practice of natural dyeing nearly two decades ago in India.

Once in a while you fall in love with a book and even if you cannot at the moment use the information in any way, you still treasure it just in case life presents you with that IF moment one day. I have no space to dye currently, especially not to dye with natural dyestuffs, yet I love this book. I love all the visual elements, the colours, the process and the end result. I have long loved colour it is the reason I knit, do textiles and dye small quantities of fabrics and threads. I once did an indigo vat and would love to do this permanently. This is a book of my dreams. It is a resource for natural dyeing, complete with projects. Find the natural materials for dyeing; discover the wonderful colours you can create; explore the possibilities. One of the most fascinating things about dye is the different colours produced by one source. Information is provided on each source. There is also plenty of information about what you can dye. All the processes are fully explained and different methods are included such as eco printing, dyeing from whole dyestuffs and from extracts. Step-by-step photos are included of the dyeing process. There are shade cards for different fibres. The projects are excellent and each one demonstrates different skills in dyeing and the projects include knitted and fabric items such as clothes, quilts, bags. Surface design is also included. This is a highly recommended, quality book that you will want to keep. Whilst not absolutely comprehensive and old hands might not find anything new, it is a wonderful book that I enjoyed immensely. * Karen Platt- yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *