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The Yarn Lover's Guide to Hand Dyeing: Beautiful Color and Simple Knits
Take your craft to the next level.
For rich, unique yarns of your very own creation, The Yarn Lover’s Guide to Hand Dyeing is your essential go-to guide.
Now you can create gorgeous, unique, handpainted yarns in your very own kitchen. In this practical guide to dyeing yarn at home, you’ll learn simple techniques for creating beautiful, colorful yarns–and pick up some new patterns to highlight your new hues along the way.
Fiber artist, knitter, and teacher Linda LaBelle provides her own valuable expertise and insight and gives readers a peek into a typical day in the lives of seven professional hand dyers through lush photographs and personal interviews in which they share their thoughts, advice, and sometimes dyeing secrets!
You’ll learn a variety of hand-dyeing processes, including faux ikat, used to create a fun tie-dyed effect; quick stovetop techniques that yield tons of color; space dyeing, which uses several colors to create a pattern; a way to dye already
knitted pieces; and trouble-free methods for immersion and handpainting. There’s also info on different types of dye–from Kool-Aid and food coloring to Jacquard Acid and PRO One Shot.
Once you’re finished, show off your rich and quirky new hues with 20 original knit and crochet patterns. Designs are easy yet sophisticated, and include everything from ponchos to scarves and hats to arm warmers. You’ll find clear instructions, entertaining projects, and plenty of how-to tips.
For rich, unique yarns of your very own creation, The Yarn Lover’s Guide to Hand Dyeing is your essential go-to guide.
Now you can create gorgeous, unique, handpainted yarns in your very own kitchen. In this practical guide to dyeing yarn at home, you’ll learn simple techniques for creating beautiful, colorful yarns–and pick up some new patterns to highlight your new hues along the way.
Fiber artist, knitter, and teacher Linda LaBelle provides her own valuable expertise and insight and gives readers a peek into a typical day in the lives of seven professional hand dyers through lush photographs and personal interviews in which they share their thoughts, advice, and sometimes dyeing secrets!
You’ll learn a variety of hand-dyeing processes, including faux ikat, used to create a fun tie-dyed effect; quick stovetop techniques that yield tons of color; space dyeing, which uses several colors to create a pattern; a way to dye already
knitted pieces; and trouble-free methods for immersion and handpainting. There’s also info on different types of dye–from Kool-Aid and food coloring to Jacquard Acid and PRO One Shot.
Once you’re finished, show off your rich and quirky new hues with 20 original knit and crochet patterns. Designs are easy yet sophisticated, and include everything from ponchos to scarves and hats to arm warmers. You’ll find clear instructions, entertaining projects, and plenty of how-to tips.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2007
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36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 22, 2019
This is a glimpse into different dyer’s studio. More of an inspiration than a how to. I loved seeing how other fiber artists have successfully created businesses in this field.
July 28, 2015
I read this book and "Yarn Works" (W. J. Johnson) on the same day. What a contrast!
This book was fluffy and vague, with a few interesting bits.
For example, the author tells us that boiling wool will "ruin" it, but doesn't say how or why. Will the wool felt, will the luster change, the texture, the color? What about superwash wool? Does the same apply to silk?
Ms La Belle (spelled that way on the cover) provides sections on the different dyes she uses: Ashford (tm), Kiton (tm), Jacquard (tm), Procion (tm), PRO WashFast Acid Dye (tm), etc. I didn't see much about the differences among the dye types: cold-pad, acid, fiber-reactive ... ? Why is Ashford "cold-pad?" What does that mean? What's the difference between the padding mixture and dyestock? There is no glossary for reference. Further, what's the difference between Kiton, Jacquar and PRO acid dyes? What makes Kiton better for consistent leveling (i.e., even dye coverage)? Sigh.
The interviews were a saving grace for the book. The pictures of dyers' pets and gardens were fun, but again: fluffy. I would rather learn more about the dyers' techniques than road conditions and a photo of her hollyhocks. And daylilies. And cosmos. And roses.
The projects didn't seem to complement the dye techniques. The author says several times that she wants to demonstrate the difference between horizontal hand-paint sections and vertically-painted sections, but there are no comparison swatches, just projects -- one of which includes an unpainted contrast color, further hindering direct comparison.
Finally, the author hit a condescending tone in places. I appreciate plain language, but being reminded again that steam causes burns ... and that Item X was available from the author's store ... I was ready to be done before the book was over.
Overall, I was glad that this book was from the local library. I won't be needing it again. I will definitely be re-reading W. J. Johnson's "Yarn Works" instead.
This book was fluffy and vague, with a few interesting bits.
For example, the author tells us that boiling wool will "ruin" it, but doesn't say how or why. Will the wool felt, will the luster change, the texture, the color? What about superwash wool? Does the same apply to silk?
Ms La Belle (spelled that way on the cover) provides sections on the different dyes she uses: Ashford (tm), Kiton (tm), Jacquard (tm), Procion (tm), PRO WashFast Acid Dye (tm), etc. I didn't see much about the differences among the dye types: cold-pad, acid, fiber-reactive ... ? Why is Ashford "cold-pad?" What does that mean? What's the difference between the padding mixture and dyestock? There is no glossary for reference. Further, what's the difference between Kiton, Jacquar and PRO acid dyes? What makes Kiton better for consistent leveling (i.e., even dye coverage)? Sigh.
The interviews were a saving grace for the book. The pictures of dyers' pets and gardens were fun, but again: fluffy. I would rather learn more about the dyers' techniques than road conditions and a photo of her hollyhocks. And daylilies. And cosmos. And roses.
The projects didn't seem to complement the dye techniques. The author says several times that she wants to demonstrate the difference between horizontal hand-paint sections and vertically-painted sections, but there are no comparison swatches, just projects -- one of which includes an unpainted contrast color, further hindering direct comparison.
Finally, the author hit a condescending tone in places. I appreciate plain language, but being reminded again that steam causes burns ... and that Item X was available from the author's store ... I was ready to be done before the book was over.
Overall, I was glad that this book was from the local library. I won't be needing it again. I will definitely be re-reading W. J. Johnson's "Yarn Works" instead.
October 25, 2013
A good introduction to the process; I've already been messing around with food-safe dyes for a while now, and lurking heavily on dyeing groups on Ravelry, so there wasn't much really earthshaking in here for me, but the advice on general dye safety is always a good thing to reinforce. I also got a better idea of what equipment I'll need to start dyeing with non-food acid dyes in my own kitchen. I've really not seen much before about the use of thickeners to get better control over dye flowage, so that was educational.
None of the projects (either dyeing or knitting/crocheting) really caught my fancy, but the sections about different dyers and their studios, inspirations, and processes were interesting and made me realize that some of the familiar brands of fancy-dyed yarn aren't the big industrial companies that I assumed.
None of the projects (either dyeing or knitting/crocheting) really caught my fancy, but the sections about different dyers and their studios, inspirations, and processes were interesting and made me realize that some of the familiar brands of fancy-dyed yarn aren't the big industrial companies that I assumed.
August 26, 2008
this is a great hands on guide for those who are slightly but not too familiar with the concept of fiber dyeing. it is very clear, and while the author is not explicit about cross processing the fibers/dyes - one can come to conclusions about how to experiment. I would have liked to have a little more core information and at least a glossary to work with - but overall I really think it's a great book.
July 16, 2010
I wouldn't say this is the be all, end all yarn dyeing book but it's a resource I wouldn't mind adding to my collection. There were a few ingredients called for in every recipe that were never explained in the section on supplies. Like someone mentioned there was a bit of core information missing. I wouldn't buy this book specifically for the patterns, they weren't really to my liking but I'm sure they would be loved by many others.
October 20, 2015
I'm not really interested in hand dying, but I was really curious to know how variegated, self-striping, and speckled yarns are produced. The book offers instructions on dying yarn as well as interviews with dyers who own their own businesses. I'm not really into variegated yarns or the patterns in this book, but other people probably would be. It's just not for me.
May 29, 2008
Found a great new technique for dyeing that I will be sure to try.
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August 22, 2008The Yarn Lover's Guide to Hand Dyeing: Beautiful Color and Simple Knits by Linda Labelle (2007)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews