The Artwork and Craft of Pure Dyeing: Conventional Recipes for Trendy Use

“That is essentially the most complete handbook written on pure dyes for the reason that early 1800s. Jim Liles has rescued historical abilities from near-extinction and shared them in a guide that may encourage, problem, and information the fashionable dyer.”–Rita Buchanan, creator of A Weaver’s Backyard, and editor of the brand new Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Handbook on Pure Dyes
” . . . a should for each dyer. The recipes are specific and detailed as to success and failure.”–Mary Frances Davidson

For a number of thousand years, all dyes have been of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin, and lots of historical civilizations possessed wonderful dye applied sciences. The primary artificial dye was produced in 1856, and the usage of conventional dyes declined quickly thereafter. By 1915 few non-synthetics have been utilized by business or craftspeople. The craft revivals of the Nineteen Twenties explored conventional strategies of pure dyeing to some extent, notably with wool, though the good eighteenth- and nineteenth-century dye manuals, which recorded the older processes, remained largely forgotten.

In The Artwork and Craft of Pure Dyeing, J. N. Liles consolidates the lore of the older dyers together with his personal first-hand expertise to provide each a historical past of pure dyes and a sensible handbook for utilizing pre-synthetic period processes on all of the pure fibers–cotton, linen, silk, and wool. A normal part on dyeing and mordanting and a glossary introduce the newbie to dye expertise. In subsequent chapters, Liles summarizes the normal dye strategies out there for every main colour group. Scores of recipes present detailed directions on the best way to gather ingredients–flowers, weeds, bugs, wooden, minerals–prepare the dyevat, troubleshoot, and obtain particular shades.

The guide will attraction not solely to starting and veteran dyers however to college students of restorations and reconstruction in addition to to craftspeople–spinners, quilters, weavers, knitters, and different textile artists–interested in pure dyes for his or her magnificence and historic authenticity.

The Creator: J. N. Liles is professor of zoology on the College of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has taught at Arrowmont College and different regional craft faculties and has exhibited his work on the Arrowmont College, the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild Folks Artwork Heart, and the Carol Reece Museum.