"Dyes from kitchen Produce" by Setsuko Ishii is an oversized paperback book filled with beautiful photographs, to start you off on a lifetime of natural dyeing. Using ingredients in your backyard and in your kitchen and requiring a minimal amount of equipment, you will be addicted to dyeing before you finish making the dyebath.
There are 30 projects with complete instructions for knitting, crocheting and sewing. Setsuko guides you through every step of the dyeing process. Learn to dye using tea, onion skins, herbs, peanut skins, black beans, nothing goes to waste. If this will be your first time dyeing yarn, fleece, material...you will receive a course in preparing your equipment, using mordants (means to bite or adhere) up to aftercare of washing and storing.
With the book sectioned into the seasons, you will find projects for the home and for yourself. Dyeing rafia in several colors will be plaited and made into mini baskets. Perfect container to hold your yarn. While recycling food for dye, you will also get a chance to recycle an old sweater into a drawstring bag in a new color. Crochet your new chamomile yarn into a teapot mat and coasters.
Once you have the dyeing bug, everything will be subject to dyeing. You will also find yourself experimenting with all different leaves, berries and rinds. Enjoy the process. It is an experiment. From my own dyeing experience (love it), there are a number of variables from season (weather conditions and soil), quantity of dyestuff, potency...that will make the results a surprise. So worth it.
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