I'm considering eco dyeing my own textiles, so I invested in Abigail Booth's The Wild Dyer, which is both a guide to making natural dyes and a project how-to book.
The author really did a nice job with this book by providing simple, clear instructions on how to make and use eco dyes, and adding lots of photographs for reference.
The projects in the book are mostly small, and look interesting, so I might give one of those a whirl. There's also a handy list of eco-dyeing resources at the back that I found invaluable.
At the back of our property we have a couple of plants that are perfect for eco-dyeing, like this pokeberry (note: these are poisonous to ingest.)
The beauty berry plants haven't ripened yet, but they are even more abundant this year.
The only thing that has held me back from eco-dyeing my own textiles is the time involved in the process, both to learn how to do it and experiment. So if I try it, I'll probably do a very limited amount at first, just as a way to dip my toe in the art of natural dyeing.
1 comment:
Don't forget the gloves. We have lots of American Beautyberry by us. It's the toughest plant I know. They say it keeps away mosquitoes, but I think they might go around them. :o)
Another plant that might prove useful is elderberry. It can stain anything. I always wear gloves when it's time to process them.
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