7 Dying Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

The Wild Dyer offers an immersive exploration into natural dyeing guided by Abigail Booth, a London-based artist and cofounder of Forest + Found. Drawing on her expertise in textiles and fine arts, Booth reveals how to transform everyday plants and kitchen scraps into delicate, lasting colors, emphasizing sustainability and mindful resource use. You'll find step-by-step instructions for preparing dyes, selecting fabrics, and creating practical stitched projects like aprons and bags, making the craft approachable whether you're new or experienced. The book's rich photography and clear guidance help you appreciate the subtle beauty of natural hues and inspire hands-on creativity tied closely to nature’s cycles.

When Joy Boutrup, a textile engineer and chemist, combined her scientific expertise with Catharine Ellis’s artistic practice and Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada’s rich experience in textile arts, they created a detailed exploration of natural dyeing that challenges common assumptions about the craft. You’ll gain an understanding of the chemical principles behind mordants, fibers, and dye fastness, supported by over 450 photographic samples demonstrating various results. The book guides you through organic indigo vats, printing techniques, and safe, sustainable practices, making it suited for both curious beginners and seasoned dyers eager to deepen their knowledge. If you want practical insights grounded in both science and art, this book will expand your grasp of natural dyeing beyond simple recipes.

This personalized framework on natural dyeing techniques provides a tailored approach that focuses on practical projects and fabric-specific strategies. It addresses a range of natural dye sources and mordanting methods, adapting to your preferred fiber types and skill level. The book integrates a methodical exploration of plant, mineral, and insect dyes with step-by-step process guidance that fits your particular crafting context. It emphasizes sustainable practices and colorfastness, cutting through irrelevant advice by centering on your unique dyeing goals and materials. By combining foundational chemistry with customized project blueprints, it offers an efficient pathway to mastering natural fabric dyeing within your chosen scope and objectives.

When J. N. Liles first realized the depth of historical knowledge nearly lost with the rise of synthetic dyes, he dedicated himself to reviving natural dyeing techniques. Drawing on his expertise as a zoology professor and extensive hands-on experience, he offers you detailed recipes and practical guidance for dyeing cotton, linen, silk, and wool using traditional plant, mineral, and insect sources. You’ll find chapters dedicated to color groups with clear instructions on collecting materials, preparing dye vats, and troubleshooting common issues, making this a solid resource whether you’re a spinner, quilter, or restoration student. While it doesn’t shy away from technical detail, it’s approachable enough to help you confidently explore these time-honored processes.

What complicates the craft of yarn making is how spinning and dyeing are often treated as separate arts, but Ashley Martineau challenges this by seamlessly integrating both in her book. Drawing from her expertise as a fiber artist, she unpacks the nuances of fiber types, preparation, and an array of dyeing techniques from solar to gradient dyeing, paired with practical spinning methods on drop spindles and wheels. You’ll gain not only the skills to create traditional yarns but also the flair to experiment with art yarns, including novelty fibers like feathers and fabric. This book suits anyone from hobbyists eager to deepen their craft to those considering turning their passion into a professional venture, with sections on marketing and wholesale sourcing rounding out the experience.

When Lauren MacDonald challenges the usual narratives about textile dyeing, she takes you on a vivid journey through the origins of the world's most famous dyes. Drawing from her expertise as a textile artist and material culture scholar, MacDonald explores how natural and synthetic dyes tell stories about labor, power, and our evolving relationship with nature. You'll learn about historic dyeing techniques, the chemistry behind colors, and how these processes reflect broader social and economic shifts. This book suits anyone passionate about textiles, artisanship, or the environmental and cultural implications of color in fabric.

This personalized book explores the intricate fusion of spinning and dyeing techniques to craft distinctive art yarns and fibers. It provides a tailored framework that integrates fiber preparation, dye chemistry, and artistic approaches to color blending, enabling you to develop unique textures and visual effects. The methodology focuses on adapting traditional and experimental dyeing processes to your specific fiber types and artistic goals, allowing for refined control over colorfastness, saturation, and yarn structure. By cutting through generic advice, the book fits your particular context, whether focused on natural dyes, synthetic colors, or mixed media, offering strategies that bridge technical skill with creative expression.

When fabric artists struggle to find accessible, creative dyeing methods, Suzanne McNeill steps in with a hands-on guide that transforms simple materials into vibrant works of art. Drawing from her extensive experience as a designer and educator, she offers over 40 dyeing techniques using permanent markers and alcohol inks to color silk, cotton, and synthetics. You’ll learn how to create scarves, quilts, postcards, and stitched collages with an inventive and approachable process. This book suits anyone eager to explore fabric arts beyond traditional dyeing, especially those who want to experiment with color effects without complex equipment.

When Maggie Callanan first re-examined her understanding of the dying process, she realized how often families and caregivers miss subtle communications from those nearing death. Drawing from decades of hospice nursing experience, she offers concrete insight into recognizing and responding to these final expressions of awareness and need. You’ll learn how to interpret gestures, words, and behaviors that often go unnoticed, helping you provide more compassionate presence. This book is particularly suited for those supporting terminally ill loved ones or working in palliative care, offering a thoughtful perspective rather than clinical detachment.