The Art and Science of Natural Dyes: Principles, Experiments, and Results

I began to explore ecoprint and had so many failures and I thought I'd get this book to have some ideas of what I'm doing. I am seriously impressed with this book. The knowledge, information, as well as how it's written and organized. The book explains the science behind process in ways that are both very informative and easy to understand. It also connects all the dots from reading a blog page here, watching a video there.There are many recipes in this book, such as how to make Aluminum Acetate, which is very expensive to buy. All the recipes are organized in its own chapters, much better than scattered throughout the book. In the chapters pertain to specific recipes, the recipe #s are listed and makes it super easy to find.It's like a textbook but written in ways that is very easy to understand.I don't buy too many craft books as so most are just project-based, which are nice, but they are like cookbooks for making the exact same dish. This book, on the other hand, gives you the knowledge to venture beyond.This book is a must-have if you want to have a cohesive understanding of natural dye process.

I’ve already had 3 “AHA” moments, and i’m only half way through. It’s not a book you read once and then sporadically refer to, so fortunately, it’s also spiral bound so it stays open to the page you want. (Terrific, now i have to dig my book/magazine holder back out of the “donate” box….)It’s not so sciencey that it can’t be understood, but it’s also not a skim it and do it manual. It covers the “classic” dyes, none of the usual beets, beans and berries nonsense, so don’t bother if you’re interested only in sauteing up some food waste, throwing in a cute baby onesie and staging artful photos for IG. If you’re serious about natural dyeing, and i don’t mean Total Scientist Mode but are a dedicated hobbyist/artist/small business owner, this is the book to explain WHY things work/don’t/happen. I still recommend Jenny Dean for basic, accurate dye recipes and processes, but this one will give you insights into the many variations that can and are encouraged to happen with skillful, knowledgeable hands.There’s a small section on testing the dye potential of local foraged plants, minimal though helpful, but not the focus of the book. That being said, those tests could lead to work with those plants, following the advice for the classics. It’s all grist for the colour mill!I’m not about to dissect any “recipe” in this reference manual: A. buy the book, i don’t like spreading out the photos of pages i find interesting, as i’d rather you support the authors, and their research and B. the recipes are classic anyways, BUT with much new information that can be digested fully with the book in front of you 🙂There’s a LOT of excitement about this book in the natural dye groups, and rightly so: it also supports all the things i, and others, have said about what constitutes solid, legitimate dyes and the techniques used to create these wondrous rainbows. I have to laugh though in one sense, because i just know that the new catchphrase is going to be “Welllll, Boutrup Ellis says……..”It’s not a cheap book, but then it’s not a cheap book, like so many of the Popular girls are publishing right now. I’m about to settle in with another cup of coffee and a pack of stickit thingies to mark pages, and do a little dreaming and planning.

What a resource for the natural dyer! Nothing fancy; a few colored pictures; no projects. This book is more the science of natural dyeing. I dye with cellulose fibers primarily because that's what I weave with. However many of the examples show animal (protein) fibers like silk and wool.The best parts are the mordants. The authors explain which dyes need them and which don't like walnut. One common mordant, aluminum triacetate, has a limited shelf life. However, it can be made from alum and sodium acetate.Recipes for making mordants and other helpful necessities are included.The authors also illustrate how the colors (on cellulose fibers) are improved by adding tannins on cellulose (walnut, myroblanan, sumac, and pomegranate).Post-dyeing dye mordants, like ferrous sulfate, will sadden the colors. Cochineal will change colors by adding acid, either to the dyepot or post-dyeing.The are several chapters on printing and discharging dye, but that was over my head. Takes the reader through dyes by color. A must have spiral bound book.

I bought this book after having taken an eco-dyeing workshop. Our instructor recommended it for it thoroughness, and it delivers. Love that it is ring-bound so it lays flat as you’re following instructions. A wide variety of natural dyes are covered, as well as mordants.

This book is great. I read the whole thing and took notes like a text book. I have never dyed fabrics, but I feel that it gave me enough information to get started successfully and know what to buy to set up. I’m sure I’ll refer back to it like an instruction book when I start dying fabrics. I appreciate this book. I plan to focus on cottons, so I appreciate how it explains the differences between the processes and outcomes for different types of fabrics, and includes color swatch images of the different types.

Brains and beauty! Jam packed with excellent quality color swatches that are a pleasure to view . Moreover , the swatches are well laid out , clearly labeled to reference the chapter text . Side by side comparison , with variables such as mordants used , fibers , dye techniques as well as percentages of dye strength was welcome by me indeed. The book has much information I've not seen elsewhere, like recipes :) There's a sense of balance between learning how &why , as well as creative mojo . This book is a reference and learning tool I know I'll be using over the long term . It's price is well below the $60 printed on back cover.. it's more of a textbook in scope . The cover is hard all the way around spine but inside the binding is spiral rings :) If I were to have one book for natural dyeing , this is it .

livro muito bom, trouxe uma luz sobre todo processo de tingimento natural. Com ele consegui entender o que funciona e o que não funciona. Foi o melhor livro que adquiri sobre o assunto ate agora. Somente senti falta de um capitulo sobre impressão botanica com as folhas, pois o capitulo que existe é sobre impressão com carimbos. Mas me ajudou muito.

this book has become my go to for natural dyeing. I love the blend of science and art

Este manual es esencial para cualquier tintorero, contiene información básica así como recetas de procedimientos más avanzados.Un excelente libro para cualquier persona interesada en teñido o las artes textiles. Las recetas son claras y fáciles de seguir.

Hugely increased my understanding of eco-dying processes

Libro muy completo! Justo lo que necesito, llego súper rápido, muy antes de lo esperado y en excelentes condiciones. Muy emocionada por ya leerlo completo ¡Gracias! Es difícil encontrar un libro de ese tema.