Colours from Nature A Dyer's Handbook

by Dean, Jenny

• ISBN13: 9781844484683
• ISBN10: 1844484688
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-01
• Publisher: Search Pr Ltd

Summary

Useful for anyone wanting to explore color without harming the natural world, this navigable reference book offers organized guidelines on how to obtain dyes through environmentally-friendly methods. Featuring dyes obtained from natural sources, such as plants, insects, and shellfish, this striking guidebook contains up-to-date information combined with simple recipes that will offer pleasing results for more than 100 colors. A comprehensive recipe section gives instructions for mixing both traditional dyes, such as cochineal, indigo, madder, and weld, and dyes drawn from alternative sources, such as blackberries, rhubarb, oak trees, and walnuts. Using color charts, this resource covers every step of the natural dyeing process, employing simple, user-friendly methods, clear instruction, and an advanced knowledge leading to excellent results.

Author Biography

Jenny Dean is an advocate for natural dyeing and the author of The Craft of Natural Dyeing.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 1
Introduction	p. 3
Equipment and Safety	p. 9
Selecting and Preparing Materials for Dyeing	p. 14
Mordanting: Introduction	p. 18
Using the percentage system for measuring	p. 20
Manufactured chemicals and recipes	p. 21
Making your own metallic mordant solutions	p. 24
Plant mordants and recipes	p. 28
Selecting and Applying Dye Colours: Introduction	p. 31
Quantities	p. 32
Extracting dye colour	p. 34
Applying dye colour	p. 35
General Instructions for Extracting and Applying Dye Colour	p. 36
Making and Using Colour Modifiers	p. 37
Testing for Colour Potential	p. 40
Testing for Light- and Wash-fastness	p. 44
Checklist of Important Reminders	p. 46
Summary of Processes	p. 48
Recipes: Yellow	p. 49
Orange	p. 52
Brown and Tan	p. 55
Red and Pink	p. 59
Purple	p. 66
Blue	p. 70
Green	p. 81
Grey	p. 82
Black	p. 84
Compound Colours	p. 86
Using Natural Dye Extracts	p. 87
Further Plant Sources of Dye Colour	p. 91
Bibliography	p. 93
Acknowledgements	p. 94
Index	p. 95
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