Vegetable Dyeing: 151 Color Recipes for Dyeing Yarns and Fabrics With Natural Materials

by Alma Lesch

A practical guide to the techniques and materials employed in creating vegetable dyes

146 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1971

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ordered a used copy of this book after seeing it recommended as the best natural dyeing resource. I am not sure I agree with that but it’s good for listing lots of simple recipes for different colors –– mostly pale, brown and yellow. The inside of the dust jacket shows the color results for over a hundred combinations of fibers, plants and additives. Otherwise the book is all simply black and white text. All of the recipes use ingredients like tartaric acid, glauber salt and iron. I had hoped for fewer ingredients and safe stuff since I dye with kids. You do sacrifice some colorfastness and brightness but I’m okay with that. The last few pages have a great chart of plants, fabrics and mordants and additives with what color you get and how colorfast it is.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing reference book for natural dying. Very thorough and even has a chart in the back telling you when/what parts to harvest if you should choose to collect your own dye materials. An old book, but always relevant!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear recipes for dyeing with plant matter using different mordants. Color samples are in the inside covers.