Dyeing Books 
All of our books are discounted at least 10% off the list price!
These are the best fabric dyeing books we could find.

Check out our other craft books too!
A Handbook of Indigo Dyeing

A Handbook of Indigo Dyeing by Vivien Prideaux is a book indigo enthusiasts, veterans and beginners alike will love. Vivien Prideaux, a self described compulsive dyer, talks about the history of indigo, traditional types of shibori binding, how to mix traditional as well as modern type indigo baths* and gives you some great ideas on what to make with all your wonderful fabric. Once you get going there will be lots of fabric to use up! She will even show you how to make a bio based indigo vat with bran and sugar as well as how to maintain it for years to come. With such well written instructions and clear photos anyone can follow along. Pretty soon you too will have the indigo blues!

8.5" x 11", Soft Cover, Color Photos, 96 pages.


*note - recipes in this book are those of the author, not necessarily the same as the one we give for our indigo. There are many ways to prepare a successful indigo bath. With the newer "pre-reduced" indigo, it gets even easier!

Stock# Description Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BID  Soft cover - 96 pages. $25.00 $22.50
In Stock Now.
Indigo Madder and Marigold
A beautifully photographed book with a common-sense approach to using natural dyes appropriate for the beginning home dyer and seasoned professional alike. With dozens of full-page photographs of beautifully dyed fabrics, fibers and yarns and over 200 individual recipes, the author employs traditional natural dyestuffs and a creative approach to teaching dye mixing, over-dyeing and PH modification.
Using an environmentally aware approach to mordants she shows how to produce a stunning palette of colors from just a few dye pots. This is one of the best books on Natural Dyeing we have ever seen, and should be part of the library of everyone using or considering using traditional natural dyes!
8.75" x 11.25" - Hard Cover - Color Photos - 120 pages
Stock# Description Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BIMM  Color Photos - 120 pages $29.95 $26.95
In Stock Now.
Teach Yourself Visually: Hand Dyeing

From the much-applauded “Teach Yourself Visually” series comes one of the best handbooks for dyers we’ve seen so far. Just about everything you ever needed and wanted to know about hand dyeing fiber and yarn can be found in this book. Learn everything from setting up a safe and efficient workspace to working with color. This book discusses not only Acid and Fiber Reactive type dyes, but Union dyes and natural dyes as well. Choosing and preparing your fiber and specific dye recipes are but a few of the topics covered in this info-packed instruction manual.

8.5" x 9" - Soft cover, Spiral Bound, Color Photos, 211 pages.

Stock# Description Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BHD  Soft cover - 211 pages $21.99 $19.79
In Stock Now.
Colour on Cloth by Ruth Issett

A very colorful book all about working with Procion MX Fiber Reactive dyes. The author discusses color and color mixing, fabrics and equipment, many methods of direct application, as well as more advanced techniques such as working with thickened dye, resists, bleaching and discharging. She even touches on using potato dextrin! Handy charts and reipes round out this comprehensive guide to artistic exploration with fiber reactive dyes! Recipes give metric and standard US measurements.

8" x 11", Soft Cover, Color Photos, 128 pages.

Stock# Description Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BCOC  Soft Cover - 128 pages $21.95 $19.75
In Stock Now.
Shibori Designs & Techniques

Every dedicated surface design enthusiast should have this book. We've carried a variety of Shibori books over the years and we think this may be one of the best. Accomplished Textile Designer and well-known author Mandy Southan guides the reader through nearly every aspect of this ancient and fascinating art form. Binding, folding, capping, clamping and stitching techniques are all revealed in beautiful detail. You will learn to create stunning effects on a myriad of fabrics using Acid dyes, Fiber Reactive dyes and discharging agents. The insightful, detailed explanations and beautiful, instructive photographs make this book a true gem.

8" x 10.25" - Soft cover - Color Photos - 96 pages

Stock# Description Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BSDT  Soft cover - 96 pages $19.95 $17.95
In Stock Now.
Tray Dyeing Book and DVD

Tray dyeing. It sounds straightforward enough doesn't it? What you may not expect is that you can achieve an infinite variety of effects and textures on your fabric using this simple and exciting version of a low immersion dyeing technique with Procion type Fiber Reactive dyes. Now this extraordinarily popular book includes a 40 minute demonstrational DVD that will give you a very thourogh introduction to this unique dye process.

Leslie Morgan and Claire Benn deliver precise and well thought out instructions for every step; from the preliminaries of understanding color schemes and harmonies, choosing your fabrics and selecting your equipment, to specific formulas for mixing up your dye and chemical solutions. There are even recipes for using your leftover dyes. Strikingly photographed examples of every part of the process, including fabric manipulation and dye application, coupled with detailed explanations of the role of every component you will be using, along with the ever so handy trouble shooting section.

This book makes a fantastic addition to any dyer’s library for creating those one of a kind pieces of fabric that can be used "...for quilts, stitched textiles, textile art, clothing, soft furnishings, interior designs, sculpture, accessories and even jewelry."

8.25" x 11.75" - Soft cover - Color photos - 44 pages

Stock# Description Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BTRD  Soft cover - 44 pages $28.00 $25.19
In Stock Now.
Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Dyeing
Fast, fun, easy…this is exactly what the art of fabric dyeing can be—if you have the right information and materials. Lynn Koolish, master quilter and well-known author of several popular surface design books brings you a simple, thorough handbook perfect for the beginning dyer's home workshop.
Packed with 12 essential can’t miss techniques for adding your own custom color to fabric, clothing, linens and household goods. With this easy to reference book, and a few basic supplies, even a dyeing "newbie" will have what they need to produce beautiful fabrics and garments with a minimum of time and effort.
8.5" x 11" - Soft cover - Color Photos - 63 pages
Stock# Description Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BFFE  Color Photos - 63 pages $17.95 $16.15
In Stock Now.
IMG:COMPLEX CLOTH - A Comprehensive Guide to Surfa
Dunnewold explains her system of layering simple processes to produce fantastic surface design effects.
Procion dyes, bleach, fabric paints, resists, transfer papers, foil, silk screen, stenciling, stamping and more are used. Really a neat book! She pushes out into new and interesting areas where anyone can achieve unique one of a kind art and clothing.
8.5"x11", Soft cover, 164 pages, color photos.
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BCC
$34.95
$31.46
Sorry, this item is temporarily sold out.
Book is discontinued; DVD set available, see #CCDVD
noimage
In Ann Johnston’s latest book, you’ll find everything you need to know about painting and printing with Procion® Fiber Reactive dyes. There are 48 exercises to learn from with clear, step-by-step directions, along with color photographs of the many results that can be achieved. Included is a chapter dedicated to water-soluble resist and recipes for making your own resists. All in all, we recommend this very informative resource!
6.25"x8.75", hard cover, 167 pgs., color photos.
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BCBD
$29.95
$26.95
In Stock Now.
IMG:COLOR BY ACCIDENT
No experience required! Because it is so well explained - my kind of book. This is a "low water immersion" method of dyeing with our Fiber Reactive dyes devised by Ann Johnston (author of "Color by Design"). The approach is very spontaneous, uses very little water & dye, no salt, and gives you the chance to create one-of-a-kind goodies. 5 variations, with 54 tested recipes. Tons of info on Procion dyeing. Great for creating a pallet of unique fabrics for those one of a kind art quilts we all drool over. Learn to make fabrics that gradate from light to dark, or one color to another too.
5.5"x8" hard bound, 95 pages, color plates.
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BCBA
$24.95
$22.46
In Stock Now.
The Surface Designer's Handbook
If you work with textiles and fibers and want only one reference book - this would be it. Beautifully photographed on high quality paper and spiral bound, this will become your "manual" and source of inspiration for trying new things and creating complex multi-layered "art fabrics".
Many dyes with recipes and techniques are thoroughly covered, including the fiber reactive MX dyes, as well as printing, discharging, devore, stamping, stenciling, resists, fabric paints and embellishments. Lots of technical info such as preparing fabric, stock solutions, thickening, steaming and color mixing. The glossary describes the what, where, when, and why's of all those things you're told to use but don't know how.
An excellent all purpose textile how-to book!
9.25" x 11.25" - Hard Cover, Inner Spiral Bound - 138 pages.
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BSDH
$29.95
$26.95
In Stock Now.
The Craft of Natural Dyeing
The Craft of Natural Dyeing will provide you with all the basic info to get started using natural dyes. Topics include dyeable materials, equipment needed , mordants, dyestuffs, color ranges and how to get them. Lots of fun information and great results with very easy to follow, step-by-step directions.
The author uses several different mordants to fix the dyes. After examining them, Dharma Trading Co. only carries Alum and the Cream of Tartar assistant because of toxicity concerns, sorry. We also carry the Washing Soda she refers to, but we call it Soda Ash. When dyeing with Indigo, she refers to Thiox, which is our Color Remover. We like this book because there are many recipes using these more safe mordants as well as the more toxic ones. In addition to most of the Natural Dyes we carry, she also talks about using plants and barks that you can grow in your own garden!
7.75" x 10.25" - Soft Cover, Full Color, 64 pages.
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BCND
$16.95
$15.25
In Stock Now.
Color Works: The Crafter's Guide to Color
And now, for something really great......THE MYSTERY OF COLOR REVEALED! What colors go together? How can I mix my own colors for any project? By understanding a few simple principles, renowned colorist and teacher Deb Menz shows you how to master your color desires.
This beautiful book, printed on high quality paper in gorgeous full color is spiral bound for easy use and reference while working. Chapters discussed include basic color relationships, understanding value, color contrasts, harmonies, choosing colors and design, and our favorite---color examples of spinning, knitting, surface design, beading, embroidery, quilting, weaving and paper making explaining how color impacts each.
Included is a neat punch out template color wheel section with extensive color variations.To sum it up, this book is all about color theory oriented specifically to fiber media.
7.75" x 10" - Hard Cover, Spiral Bound, 147 pages.
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BCW
$24.95
$23.45
In Stock Now.
Shibori by Lynne Caldwell
This is a good book for beginners who want to see what the possibilities and options are for bound resist. It covers tying, folding, clamping, stitching, pole wrapping and bound objects as design elements.
Dyes are discussed with recipes and directions including fiber reactive, acid, indigo and vat dyes, as well as discharging and embellishing. There are 13 step by step projects to showcase the techniques.
10.25" x 8.75", Hardcover, Color, 127 pages
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BSHB
$19.95
$17.95
In Stock Now.
Perfectly Pearl-Ex
Intrigued by Pearl Ex Pigment Powders but not sure what to do with them? Well here's the book for you! Some of the techniques shown are stamping, watercolor stamping, interference watercolor, backgrounds, paste paper backgrounds, monoprints and faux finishes. These delectable mica-based powders can lead to so many possiblities, and this book is the perfect guide!
8½" x 11", 23 pages, color, softcover.
Stock# Quantity List Price Dharma Price
#BPP
$8.99
$8.09
In Stock Now.

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