Seasonal Plant Dyes: Creating year round colour from plants, beautiful textile projects

by Alicia Hall

This beautifully illustrated book takes you on a botanical journey through the year, showing you how to create colourful and environmentally friendly plant dyes. You’ll learn sustainable methods of growing and harvesting plants; the tools and techniques required to extract dye; which fabrics and yarns to choose; and the simple method of using soya milk as a fixative, to ensure rich and long-lasting colours.

The book includes easy-to-follow tutorials explaining how to make four stunning pieces using seasonal plant dyes: a linen cushion cover, embroidered picnic blanket, hot water bottle cosy, and quilt.

Genres: Nonfiction

104 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2020

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read quite a few books on using plants for natural dyes. There were things I liked about this one (especially that Hall uses soy milk as a mordant instead of more hazardous materials that are commonly used) and that it has a seasonal tone. That said, there aren't a lot of plants featured and there aren't the color swatches and illustrations that I really like in plant dye books. I also really like seeing the variations you can get by adding various mordants and by using different fabrics, which this didn't do much of. A few plants are listed for each season with information about the colors they produce and how to best use them. Each season has a dye-related project like an embroidered blanket or frilly pillow to make using dyed materials. All in all, this is a good addition to the ever-increasing library of plant dye books out there. All of them are great reads, as is this one.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[Rachel Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second recent review of a new book on natural dyes! The first was The Wild Dyer by Abigail Booth.

I'll reiterate the point with which I opened that prior review: in the field of theatrical costume production, there's not much focus on natural dyes. Costume designers are devoted to color control, and when I'm asked to dye something for a show, I'm given a Pantone color or fabric swatch to which I must color-match. Color control can be difficult with any dyestuff, but natural dyes require significant experience to exert the level of control the theatrical discipline requires. That said, I can envision conceptual productions or theater companies for whom natural dyeing was a conscious choice on behalf of the creative team or the organization itself.

The book is basically divided in two parts: the first six chapters on the methodology of harvesting and using plants as dyes, then the final four chapters using the cycle of the seasons as an organizational structure to cover what plants to use when. (This is another good reason why natural dyes are not used much in theatrical production--we often don't have time to wait for the cycle of the seasons to provide the supplies for the proper color! A designer would have to decide to restrict their design to the palette of a given season.)

I love the way this book is structured. In order to fully understand how to use the dyes in a given season to make the accompanying project, those first six chapters are must-reads. They cover how to harvest plants for maximum color yield, how to choose fabrics with a fiber content with which the dyes can react, what tools you'll need, and various dye processes and recipe additions such as lemon juice or vinegar (acids) and chalk or wood ash (alkalis).

This book is more of a gardener's perspective on natural dyes, whereas the prior title i reviewed (The Wild Dyer) was more of a forager/cook's point of view.

I received an ARC of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[LauSo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I've become curious about dying fabric with plant dyes ever since my mother took a class on it and we searched different methods on the internet, like adding salt, how to change the colors with the pH and so on. So this book really helped because I think it's a good beginners book because it tells you how important it is to use natural dyes for the enviroment and yourself, and how to use those plants in a way that it can bring the best result and also bring more life to that plant. I think the way the author explained the harvesting of different parts of plants was really interesting and clear. And I think this is a good beginners book and the first step to understand this method and start to play with it. I really enjoyed reading it, and I'm gratefull for Netgalley to give me an e-arc copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction to plant dyes. A few seasonal plants that lead into the project for that season. Not a lot of plants. Great for those who want do things like this.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Seasonal Plant Dyes is a tutorial and instruction guide for natural botanical dyes and projects by Alicia Hall. Due out 30th Jan 2020 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 104 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

There is a particular beauty and perennial appeal with the more subtle, gentle, and less saturated natural dyes. This book provides an accessible introduction to the methods, tools, and plants necessary to get started. The introductory chapters (~35% of the page content) cover harvesting plants, choosing materials to dye, tools, mordanting with soya milk (new concept to me), dyeing basics, and some alternative preparations with metal and oxides.

The rest of the book is split into seasonal preparations and an abbreviated herbal with 5 plants for each season. Each of the seasonal chapters also includes a simple project tutorial such as cushion cover, embroidered picnic blanket, water bottle cover, and pieced quilt.

The pictures are appealing and restful. The author emphasizes safety and (where applicable) organic and easily sourced ingredients. The included projects are very simple and appealing. Natural dyeing is an experimental and experiential craft. It is almost impossible to get consistent results and the author's writing style goes with that flow.

The book doesn't include an index or links for further reading, or a bibliography. The measurements included in the tutorials are in standard (metric) measures. There is no conversion tool in the book.

I loved the easy and accessible prose and the lovely clear pictures. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

[Patricia Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

As a weaver, dyer, spinner the subject is close to my heart. If you have ever vaguely considered natural dyeing then buy this book.

Beautifully Illustrated the photography alone is tempting. Excellent explanation regarding the safety of natural dyeing and what plants are toxic and have to be avoided.

Natural dyeing is a slow craft and all the better for that. Whilst learning what to use for dyeing one learns more about fabric and plants, creating different shades on different fabrics from the same plants etc.

How to harvest and store plant materials in depth and how to select suitable fabrics and yarns.

Tools and mordants are especially detailed, safety being important. How to dye and dispose of the dye itself.

Dyeing is not complicated with such good information.

As each page is turned I wanted to begin a project. It’s a very thorough and thoughtful, beautiful book..

Make a crafter you know very happy if gifted to them, or simply treat yourself!

I rarely give 5 stars but this super book deserves it..

.

[Melissa Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely little book will inspire fiber artists of all types to delve into dyeing their own custom materials. Although Alicia Hall’s plant sources in the UK are significantly different from mine in Northern California, her clear and beautifully illustrated instructions had me observing with a very different eye the plants on my morning walk. I look forward to rosemary, walnut, lavender and bay leaves steeping in my dye pots very soon.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic and if you want to learn how to make plant dyes this book is for you. It’s packed full of great in-depth instructions and pictures. I never realized how complicated using plant dyes can be and I’m very impressed by the authors expertise. This book exceeded my expectations and I loved reading it. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Helen Leighton-Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ave several plant dye books and though this is not as in depth or as far ranging as other it is utterly accessible with plants readily available and soya as a mordant. I felt the 'projects' were superfluous to the dye book.

[Jo Cartey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book & perfect introduction to plant dyes

I can't wait to get started on these plant dyes. I'm new to plant dyeing but Alicia has made the process really digestible and easy to follow. The book is beautifully put together and the craft projects look gorgeous.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent beginner guide!

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the nicest books on plant dyeing I have seen for awhile. Very well laid out with lots of pictures and good information to go with them. The plants are ones that are easily obtainable and are grown in most gardens - I grow all apart from madder, woad and alkanet in mine.
The information about when to pick, part to use and colours that can be expected are really useful, as are the colour pictures. The book is separated into seasons and each season has a project to aim for with the plants which are available at these times.
I really recommend this book for both beginners and experienced dyers, just a lovely easy book with plenty to learn from.