Nature’s Colorways: Conjuring the Chemistry and Culture of Natural Dyes

Description

Nature’s Colorways is a collection of throughtful articles about natural dyeing from diverse authors such as Kenya Miles, Jenny Balfour-Paul, Anita Quye and Dominique Cardon.

From the author:

Nature’s Colorways explores the rich cultural traditions of natural colors from around the world and introduces new ways to explore natural dyeing for yourself.

Set aside the complicated or smelly chemistry of the indigo vat and explore a simple way of coaxing color from fresh leaves. Learn safe methods to find the elusive colors hidden in lichen, a wonderfully odd composite organism. Get out a hammer and smash some plants onto fabric to make intricate plant prints. Save some rusty metal and create a bold design when you combine it with tannins. Get out a seed catalogue and start planning a world-class dyer’s garden, or toss some onion skins, tea bags, and pickling alum in a saucepan and dye loops for a potholder to use proudly.

Much of what we hear about dyeing comes to us through received wisdom or hearsay. This collection invites you to question everything you know about natural dyes, from what a mordant is to what’s possible with indigo to how to get the colors you’ve dreamed of onto your cloth. Join us on a journey around the color wheel and beyond.

A lovely book with contributions from some of our favorite people! Not to be missed!

112-page book, paperback with flaps, 8.5” x 10”