A Weaver's Garden Growing Plants for Natural Dyes and Fibers

by Buchanan, Rita

• ISBN13: 9780486407128
• ISBN10: 0486407128
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-05-13
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

Valuable hints from a veteran botanist and weaver on dyeing fibers and fabrics, what soap plants to use for cleaning textiles, advice on fragrant plants to scent and protect fabrics, plant materials to use as tools, suggestions for planning and creating a garden featuring cotton, flax, indigo, and much more. Includes glossary, pronunciation guide and an abundance of illustrations. An informative and inspiring volume for weavers, gardeners, textile artists, and craftspeople.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 Plant Fibers for Spinning and Stuffing
    The History and Uses of Plant Fibers
    The Occurrence and Properties of Plant Fibers
    Cotton
    Flax
    Fiber Plants to Know and Grow
2 Dyes from Plants
    A Brief History of Natural Dyeing
    Plants as Sources of Pigments
    Using Plants to Dye Fibers and Fabrics
    Dye Plants to Know and Grow
    Indigo
3 Soap Plants for Cleaning Textiles
    Cleaning without Soap
    About Soap
    Surfactants as Cleaning Agents
    Washing Different Fibers and Fabrics
    Soap Plants to Know and Grow
4 Fragrant Plants to Scent and Protect Textiles
    Traditional Sachets
    Textile Pest Repellents
    Harvesting and Drying Fragrant Plants
    Fragrant and Insecticidal Plants to Know and Grow
5 Plant Materials Used to Make Textile Tools
    Spindles and Other Spinning Tools
    Reeds and Other Weaving Tools
    Teasels for Finishing Woolens
    Plants to Know and Grow for Use as Tools
6 Creating a Garden
    Planning and Preparation
    Getting and Growing Plants
Resources
  Public Gardens to Visit
  Suppliers of Herbal Products
  Suppliers of Seeds and Plants
  "Suppliers of Fiber, Yarn, and Dyeing Supplies"
Glossary
Pronunciation Guide
Index