Natural Dye Handbook (Heidi Iverson)

This rich and comprehensive guide to natural dyeing processes will take your dyeing practice to the next level. Heidi Iverson covers the entire lifecycle of natural dying, from obtaining plants to different dying practices, to how to use different substances and colour mixing to expand your palette, and even including how to journal your practice. 

This ultimate handbook for natural dyers explores two different approaches to natural dyeing – a traditional style and a more intuitive approach – and shares information on mindful dye practices, low-energy alternatives and water-conscious methods as well more traditional dye methods, using raw dyestuff, whole plants and ground plants. It includes the fundamental principles of natural dyeing to help you understand each plant and process. There is a large section exploring colour theory, where Heidi explains techniques for mixing colours and how to create your own colour library. She explains how to boost the spectrum of colors you can achieve through using a variety of tannins, mordants, modifiers, and mixing colors to get incredible results naturally, and there is an included library of more than 60 plants including fungi, leaves, bark, roots, flowers, fruit, nuts, and seeds, and the incredible natural-dyed rainbow you can create with them. There is also advice about foraging dye plants safely, ethical harvesting and growing your own dye plants, and it shows you how to create your own dye journal in order to track your progress

This detailed examination is perfect for natural dyers who want to take their journey further, and also a great start point for new dyers. 

About Heidi Iverson

Heidi Iverson is a textile artist, teacher, natural dye advocate, and founding member of Fibershed (a non-profit organization that develops regional fiber systems that build ecosystem and community health). She teaches mending and natural dye workshops in Northern California.