I like the creativity of the dyes she chooses, and the good advice on creating a workspace and mordanting. I've tried 1 so far (rosemary), and wasn't impressed with the results, but since I'm adapting for paper dyeing as opposed to fiber, I can't say that's definitive. Excited to try avocado pits soon. ( )

A splendid calendar of Northern California Natural Dyes, and those who may wish to grow some of their own dye plants as well as (sustainable) good practice in gathering dyestuffs. Caveat to those who wish to dye for longevity: learn more deeply about about mordanting elsewhere, as Sasha touches very lihgtly on the subject, and doesn't mind fugitive colors and is happy to re-dye wearable projects annually. That said, have fun, this is a warmly welcoming introduction to plant based dyeing.

This is the sort of book that convinces me that I don't have the space or resources to try this.

And why isn't there any discussion of how well the colours last?

Still it's kind of fun reading about it, even if the projects are a bit weird. Black rope necklace, anyone? ( )

This is a frustrating book. On the one hand, it's beautiful. Hard bound, nice paper, lovely photographs. The author is clearly passionate about the natural dyes, and it seems like she has extensive experience with them. There are some very attractive projects that show off some of the nifty properties of natural dyes. I also like the fact that most of the recipes start from raw materials; I find it somewhat disconcerting when natural dye books emphasize how great natural dyes are and how awful synthetics are, then send you to the same online supplier to buy your natural dyes in powders.

On the other hand, there are a lot of problems, as well. Here are a few:

--There's a relentless focus on Northern California plants. The author mentions experimenting with plants from other areas, but doesn't share any details.

--There's a constant refrain "you'll want to experiment for yourself" but no suggestions to make my experimenting more efficient. There needs to be a section that covers things like how to tell whether a plant might provide color (a field test?) and whether there are any quick and dirty techniques for figuring out what colors a plant might produce (a studio test?). But before that, why do I need to do all this experimenting? After telling me over and over that people have been using natural dyes for millennia, perhaps the author could put together a list or two of plants that are already known to work and not.

--Do all plant colors work the same on protein fibers as on plant fibers? There are different mordanting techniques, but does the color look the same?

--The instructions are poorly written. There was one complicated process with a zillion steps, none of which included putting the fiber in the pot. After studying it for several minutes, I'm 75% sure that the fiber goes in at the end, but I shouldn't have any questions at all. And, the author uses the same template for all the projects (which may be the editor's fault) -- so, the first step is always to soak the fiber (about an hour), even if the second step is to steep the dyestuff over night.

--Medicinal dyeing? Really? Give me credible scientific support, or give me a break.

In summary, this is an inspirational book. Unfortunately, it has inspired me to buy a better book on natural dyeing. ( )

Natural Color is a comprehensive guide to dying using plants (and other natural resources) by Sasha Duerr. This is a beautiful hardcover book that has something for all levels (from beginner to advanced). I have been interested in dying my own wool, cotton and silk for some time. I only wanted to use natural materials because of my allergies to dyes. The author takes the time to explain the process and the materials needed. The instructions are easy to understand and the book has beautiful illustrations. The book is set up by seasons (for color purposes). You can learn how to dye using persimmons, rosemary, indigo, sweet gum leaf, hibiscus, plus much more. There is a good chapter on mordants and modifiers. There is a glossary of terms, index, and list of resources. There are some lovely projects in the book. If you wish to learn to dye with natural materials, then I recommend this book for you. I give Natural Color 5 out of 5 stars. Natural Color would make a great gift for the crafter in your family. ( )