Colours from Nature: A Dyer's Handbook Book

Preface 1

Introduction 3

Equipment and Safety 9

Selecting and Preparing Materials for Dyeing 14

Mordanting: Introduction 18

Using the percentage system for measuring 20

Manufactured chemicals and recipes 21

Making your own metallic mordant solutions 24

Plant mordants and recipes 28

Selecting and Applying Dye Colours: Introduction 31

Quantities 32

Extracting dye colour 34

Applying dye colour 35

General Instructions for Extracting and Applying Dye Colour 36

Making and Using Colour Modifiers 37

Testing for Colour Potential 40

Testing for Light- and Wash-fastness 44

Checklist of Important Reminders 46

Summary of Processes 48

Recipes: Yellow 49

Orange 52

Brown and Tan 55

Red and Pink 59

Purple 66

Blue 70

Green 81

Grey 82

Black 84

Compound Colours 86

Using Natural Dye Extracts 87

Further Plant Sources of Dye Colour 91

Bibliography 93

Acknowledgements 94

Index 95