Natural Dyeing for your fiber

I have been interested in dyeing my fiber, or yarn I have spun, During my reading

I found two interesting books, if you want to know more about dyeing with

natural plants.

Natural Dyeing by Jackie Crook has some especially beautiful illustrations.

It goes through the basic premise of what you need, how it works and I like that

there are pictures of the yarn with various mordants.

I think this book is more inspirational, wets your appetite for what may be

accomplished with natural dyes.

Some of her examples are using exotic woods, and plants that are not available

to the general population of North America. Some are common, and the colors

we see are dazzling vibrant colors. It is inspirational and could be used as a

template for experimentation of plants in your area.

The photos alone are worth a good look.

Dyes from American Native Plants by Lynne Richards & Ronald J. Tyrl is a very

all encompassing dyeing book, from history of, supplies and equipment and

the process of natural dyeing, to a unbelievable list of 7 chapters of dyeing

plants. Each chapter covers a color, Purple/Red, Gren, Yellow, Orange, Brown,

Black, and Little or no Color.

The last chapter of the book entails a catalog of native dye plants, that includes

good pictures of each plant, where it might be located and other info.

I have never dyed any fiber, but this book had me wondering around my yard

and neighborhood looking at everyone's plants in a new light.

This book looks like it would be a great resource for anyone interested in

natural dyeing of fiber, or cloth.

Technorati Tags: Natural dyeing book reviews