The Natural Colors Cookbook: Custom Hues For Your Fabrics Made Simple Using Food

A recent grad from SAIC, I was looking for a reference to support my desire for a more immersive art practice. As a fiber artist I found this book to be approachable to those with no experience and challenging to those with a masters degree - a very difficult achievement. This book is an incredible treasure and I am not only inspired to create more art, I am now able to face my hesitation/fear of natural dyes, further questioning, why isn’t everyone taking their art practice to this level of sustainablity?

I found this book through a series of clicks and random researching on instagram. I had followed the authors instagram prior to making this purchase.The book is very informative and has a variation of easier and more complicated recipes...but I think it is all very beginner friendly. I am familiar with naturals dyes but there was a lot of content in here that was new to me.I didn't know that you could essentially use all parts of the avocado(except the part you eat) to make a pink dye! I've been trying to collect as many avocados as I can to add to my upcoming dye bath.

The cookbook format is a great way to organize and present the subject. Ms Pate's book strikes a nice balance between style and substance. The photography provides lots of visual appeal while she explains terms and techniques.Who knew that fennel stalks and feathers would produce such a beautiful green hue? I'll never look at the supermarket's produce department quite the same way. This will be a real go-to book for anyone interested in natural dyeing.

I think a person wanting to learn about natural dyeing is better off just researching online and taking notes or just diving in and experimenting. The "projects" consist of dyeing clothing items you already have, dyeing yarn/string and calling it a necklace, tying dyed fabric scraps around a dowel and calling it a wall hanging, tying yarn/string on hoops, hanging it around a light bulb and calling it a lamp. Very uninspiring. The term being a vegetarian gets thrown around quite a bit too but I'm not sure why. Classic, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" but in reverse.

Not alot of substance, very basic. There are better books on the subject that offer more information on natural fabric dyeing. I hate to be negative but want to be helpful to those searching for better resources.

I really wanted something like Wild Colors but for foodstuffs, but this is not nearly that thorough - more of a craft inspiration book than a comprehensive how-it-works reference.

Great craft to get into. There are some ingredients that are really inexpensive so it makes the craft accessible. Very clear instructions.Here is a project I did with Red Cabbage. Cotton baby indie and yarn for a sweater.

Love this book!! Beautiful photography and a comprehensive guide to dyeing with easy to follow instructions and a list of resources. Perfect for the home or textile artist library.

I'm SO pleased I came across this book. I've just started dying ribbons for a new business venture and was shocked at the lack of information on the internet, not to mention the lack of consistency in the advice that was there. I was desperate for a guide to break down the basics and give me a step by step recipe to creating some beautiful colours. I am so pleased I came across this book. It's well written, to the point, precise and the images are perfect.

Love this book!!