Wild Dyeing

From the Garden to Color: An Introduction to Natural Vegetable Dyes

This book is an artfully presented resource for enthusiasts and crafters seeking authoritative information about the natural dyeing process from sourcing plants, extracting dyes, and materials to use.

For those wishing to make their own dyes for decorating fabrics and textiles, upcycling clothes, creating their own color combinations, or relying upon natural methods, this book provides a step-by-step introduction to making colorful, natural dyes from plants and organic materials, whether collected in the wild or cultivated in the garden. The formulas, methods, and natural secrets are accompanied by idyllic …

Every technique is 100% environmentally friendly, and every detail is covered including the history of dyeing; foraging for wild plant material; dye plants in the garden; proper materials and methods; matching fiber to the right dye; special techniques for hemp, linen, cotton, and even food; and testing for color fastness. Also included are sample projects. Mastering the art of using plant-based dyes will provide years of inspiration for a range of projects from upcycling old garments to designing beautiful new creations.

Having exchanged harried city life for a return to a “slow life” in the countryside, Céline Philippe shares her eco-friendly approach to dyeing and working with textiles and her renewed relationship with nature.

2 editions

Hardcover

Published by Rizzoli New York.

ISBN:: 978-0-8478-4546-0
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Reviews

nasamuffin, book enjoyer reviewed Wild Dyeing by Céline Philippe

Very informational but not a fan of the author

3.5 stars

There's some really useful info in here, and it's clear that on the topics of chemistry and colorant preparation, Philippe knows her shit.

However, one can't help but roll their eyes at the number of times she says "of course, it's better to prefer organic" in a condescending way. And this sanctimoniousness about the environment is entirely spoiled when she dismisses the threat of invasive weeds in ecosystems that can't handle them. No, I don't think it's actually great news that invasive dyer's woad is thriving in western North America; no, I don't think you should put scare quotes around "invasive" while assuring people that it's fine for Japanese knotweed to grow all over Europe because, ha ha, you can harvest it to cook up a mordant.

Anyway, the details about the dyeing beside the author's personality were quite useful, and gave me some ideas to try myself, if I ever get myself going with natural dyeing for real.