Books

 

Here are my recommendations for the best natural dye books that provide reliable information, grounded in thorough personal research, historically accurate practice, and/or scientific evidence.

Please support independent bookstores for your purchases. If they don’t have something in stock, they are always happy to order a particular book for you. Jeff Bezos, of Amazon, already has far too much of the world’s money and treats his employees terribly. Please don’t reward that. Bookshop.org is an innovative initiative to make it easy to buy from independent bookstores online. So far, they have operations in the UK, Spain, and the USA, with more coming online all of the time.

The best introduction

for the natural dye beginner. Full of practical, well organized information on every aspect of natural dyeing. This book provides colour samples for a large number of classic and foraged dye materials, in combination with various mordants. It does include some content devoted to highly fugitive colourants, and Jenny Dean has subsequently explained their inclusion here.

Simple science for non-scientists

with enough applied chemistry, explained in simple, non-technical language, to give some insights into what’s actually happening with various natural dye processes. Mostly focused on techniques, not the dyes themselves (only a few dyes are covered, as they are used to illustrate the comprehensive techniques).

Grounded in comprehensive research

this book is global in scope, and provides rich historic context, as well as excellent summary information about the key chemical constituents of natural dyes and auxiliaries. The price of this book is well out of the reach of most people on Earth (I don’t understand why it has been priced so prohibitively), but if you can find it through your library system, it is a natural dye classic well worth the read.

The most science-rich book

for those with a science background. The information included is extremely comprehensive, very technical and geared toward a scientifically educated audience. Another book priced well out of the reach of most people, but again, if you can access it through your library system, it is well worth a read if you have a science education.

Historical treasure trove

of methods that have been brought into the modern era, with helpful recipe substitutions where historic ingredients are no longer available or are unsafe. Very few images showing results, but a must have book for those interested in preserving hard won historic knowledge, and recreating a wide range of really beautiful historic dye results.

 

Select Suppliers

There are hundreds of different suppliers around the world, providing mordants, assists, natural dyes, fibres, tools, etc. Students in my courses receive a six page list of global suppliers. However, here I have chosen to focus just on:

  • small Canadian suppliers whose product I have tested;

  • a few other global suppliers who are doing interesting things.

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