Create a rainbow of vibrant natural yarn dyes using 25 sustainable, tried-and-tested recipes.
Achieve rich, lightfast colours from plants, lichen and fungi without compromising safety or the environment.
Create a rainbow of vibrant natural yarn dyes using 25 sustainable, tried-and-tested recipes.
Achieve rich, lightfast colours from plants, lichen and fungi without compromising safety or the environment.
If you've ever dreamed of creating vibrant, natural and completely unique yarn shades for your knitting, crochet or weaving projects, then look no further. Natural dyeing is a wonderful blend of colour, chemistry, craft and nature. Here, expert authors Anna Bauer and Eva Zethraeus share with you 25 easy-to-follow recipes for a rich palette of yarn dyes, from the juicy reds of beetroot and vibrant yellows of onion to the shimmering pinks, purples and blues of red cabbage.
Whether you're a beginner looking for a comprehensive guide to dyeing yarn, or an experienced dyer looking for new recipes and inspiration, this book will equip you with everything you need to get dyeing, along with invaluable tips and insights. Inside you’ll find:
- 25 dye recipes from readily available plants, fungi and lichen, which produce a stunning palette of shades.
- Clear instructions: each tried-and-tested recipe is detailed and easy to follow and takes you from start to finish, from making your dyebath to using mordants for fixing colour.
- A sustainable approach: learn how to maximize the potential of your dye materials, plus practical advice on aftercare to ensure that your yarns remain as beautiful and vivid as the day they were dyed.
- A comprehensive introduction for first-time dyers: equip yourself with the right tools and techniques for successful dyeing, including collecting plant materials, fixing your colours and essential safety tips.
- Guidance for further reading: packed with a glossary and references for further reading, this is your all-in-one resource for mastering the art of botanical dyeing.
- Bonus content online: two knitting patterns designed by the authors, and applying the practices illustrated in this book, will be available on the Bookmarked Hub: www.bookmarkedhub.com
This book is an invitation to create unique, sustainable, vibrant yarn dyes that honour the environment and showcase your creativity.
Table of Contents
The hunt for sustainable colours
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Myths about dyeing with plants
Picking and collecting
Environment and safety
About the yarn
Washing fastness
Lightfastness
Equipment
Parameters affecting colour
The dyeing process
Things to bear in mind for successful dyeing
Preparations
Mordanting
Natural mordants
DYE RECIPES
Natural dyes
Mordant dyeing
Vat dyeing
DYEING WITH PLANTS
Madder
Beetroot
Plum
Yellow onion
Birch
Red onion
Tansy
Golden marguerite
Goldenrod
Rhubarb
Heather
Dyer’s weed (weld)
Eucalyptus
Common reed
Brazilwood
Logwood
Red cabbage
Walnut
Indigo
DYEING WITH FUNGI
Surprise webcap mushroom
Velvet roll rim mushroom
Scaly tooth fungus
Sulphur tuft
DYEING WITH LICHENS
Rock tripe
Crottle
Next steps
Using the same dyebath more than once and overdyeing
Afterbaths
Care
Glossary
References
Further reading
List of illustrations
Our thanks to
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About Anna Bauer
Anna Bauer is a textile artist with a Masters in textile art from Högskolan for Design and Arts and Crafts in Gothenburg, Sweden. Aside from knitting Anna also incorporates embroidery, print and costume into her artwork and textile designs. For more information about Anna, visit www.annabauer.se.
About Eva Zethraeus
Eva Zethraeus is a ceramic artist with a master’s degree from HDK (Academy of Art and Design in Gothenburg, Sweden). She creates sculptures inspired by nature. Follow Eva on Instagram: @ezeth
Library Journal
Bauer and Zethraeus, faculty at Konstepidemin, an artists workspace in Sweden, have created a guide for the home yarn maker interested in using sustainable dyes. The authors avoid toxic dyes and processes as well as those that are likely to fade quickly. The book begins with the basics, including safety measures, lightfastness, equipment, and variables that will impact color. It provides instructions for a basic dyeing process, including preparation of the yarn, using mordant, and mixing the dye bath. It then offers dye recipes using a variety of plants, fungi, and lichen, which produce a wide range of colors. Some of these materials, including onions and beets, are available at grocery stores, but others will be more elusive, and readers may need to order them. Instructions are clear and detailed but not wordy, and each recipe is accompanied by photographs of the plants used, as well as dyed samples. Back matter includes a glossary, further reading, and links to two knitting patterns. VERDICT Accessible to beginners yet interesting for readers with some dyeing experience, this guide will appeal to fiber enthusiasts who want to expand the range of colors available to them and are willing to experiment.
