Dyes from American Native Plants: A Practical GuideThe dyeing of textiles and other materials is a rewarding and delightful way to bring the colors of nature to daily living. In our technological age, dyes from plants offer subtle and diverse hues unavailable from synthetic dyestuffs. They connect practitioners to the environment as well as to the crafts and history of our ancestors. Dyes from native plants offer a special source of satisfaction and beauty.In this fascinating book, the authors have compiled extensive information to bring the techniques, plants, and lore of natural dyeing within every reader's reach. In the first part of the volume, they emphasize the science, history, and practical aspects of dyeing. Chapters include discussions of color theory, dye equipment, dye processes, mordants, and easy-to-follow instructions for processing plants and dyeing fabrics.The core of the book is an exhaustive reference to the hundreds of colors that can be obtained from 158 commonly encountered North American plant species. The authors include detailed records of the various plant parts needed to produce different colors, cross-referencing each color to the Munsell color system, an internationally accepted standard for describing color.Finally, the book offers a practical botanical field guide that allows readers to locate and identify each plant in the book. Beautiful color photographs round out the volume. |
Contents
Preface | 6 |
An Introduction to Natural Color | 9 |
A Brief History of Natural Dyeing | 17 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
achenes alum heat light alum heat pale Asteraceae bark bracts bright golden yellow color copper decomposition copper heat light cream none decomposition cream none heat decomposition dull yellow decomposition light decomposition light golden decomposition pale yellow decomposition pale yellow-cream decomposition roots decomposition stems disk florets drupes dull yellow copper DYE SOURCE DYE Fabaceae golden yellow tin gray iron heat bright golden heat dull yellow heat leaves heat light yellow heat pale yellow heat pale yellow-cream heat stems heat yellow-beige inflorescence iron decomposition iron decomposition light iron heat iron heat light leaves light light yellow alum light yellow-tan MORDANT Native Americans olive iron heat pale yellow alum pale yellow-cream alum PRAIRIE ray florets rhizomes rootstocks sepals SOURCE DYE RESULT species stems light tin decomposition pale tin heat light white-tailed deer yellow A member yellow alum decomposition yellow alum heat yellow copper heat yellow none heat yellow tin decomposition yellow tin heat