A Garden to Dye For

A Garden to Dye For: How to Use Plants from the Garden to Create Natural Colors for Fabrics and Fibers | Chris McLaughlin

pick

Great for inspiring experimentation, this how-to doesn‘t delve far into the chemistry of dyeing but it does outline the basics of pretreating your fabrics with mordants, plus modifying colours after dyeing. Lots of information about using common garden plant material, including vegetables and fruits. The author finds fugitive colours aren‘t always a negative: ie in recipes for homemade paints, playdough & Easter egg dyes.

48 likes1 stack add

Lindy

A Garden to Dye For: How to Use Plants from the Garden to Create Natural Colors for Fabrics and Fibers | Chris McLaughlin

“Once you start dyeing it‘s surprisingly hard to stop. Welcome to your new addiction.”

(Yep. Ever since taking a couple of natural dyes workshops, I find myself looking around at what plants I can use to make dye and what fibre and fabric I can dip in a dye pot.)

Dolly Nice! I also have this book. I‘ve been dyeing for years and attended a workshop last weekend as a matter of fact. Do you have favorites? I want to grown Japanese indigo next year. Can‘t wait. 5y

Lindy @Dolly I don‘t have enough experience yet to have favourites. I like indigo, cochineal and brazilwood but I want to try using stuff (ie mallow blossoms & motherwort) from my own garden. I‘m waiting until some mordant supplies arrive by mail before I start cooking up any dye baths. Meanwhile, I‘m saving up onion and avocado skins. 5y

mreads The avacado makes such pretty colors. 5y

See All 6 Comments

Dolly Onion is a good one. I‘d be interested in how the avocado turns out. I composted sooo many skins and seeds over the last couple years. 5y

Lindy @Dolly @mreads A woman who attended the last dyeing workshop I was at brought in her avocado-dyed samples. They were beautiful soft corals and pinks. (edited) 5y

Dolly Oh yes, avocado pink 😂. Amazing. 5y

50 likes1 stack add6 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books