Customer Reviews

Color Your Cloth: A Quilter's Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Malka Dubrawsky has completely transformed the way I look at fabric. I've been following her blog for quite a while and waiting impatiently for her book to come out. I'm so happy the wait is over! This book is not just gorgeous to look at, it provides clear instructions for altering fabrics to be more you and suit your style. The front part of the book walks you through dyeing, discharging, and using wax resists; the last section of the book provide clear patterns and examples of projects that look especially wonderful with this type of colored cloth. As a quilter, I'm especially drawn to the quilt patterns, but the camera strap and placemats also look amazing when done in these handmade batik fabrics. Thoroughly modern, but so human and cheerful, I highly recommend this book!

I bought this book for my wife, who loved it. Here's her review:

Color Your Cloth is full of inspiration and stunning projects. It is written in 2 main sections.

First, the 'how to dye your fabric' section. The explanations are clear and easy to follow. Malka often suggests more than one technique that can be tried to achieve stunning results. She focuses on using materials that are easy to find and not overly expensive which is great especially if, like me, you are a beginner just wanting to try out different techniques without investing a heap of money. Even though this is the more technical of the 2 sections, it is full of loads of eye candy .... divine fabrics that actually seem achievable to create in your own home.

The second section is 'what you can make with your gorgeous newly dyed fabrics'. These projects range from dead easy to more advanced and are all fabulous. In this arena, I am more advanced in my experience [...] and I have found great inspiration in these projects also.

I can't wait to get started coloring my own cloth.

Andi :-)

I have been dying my fabric for years, and have studied traditional batik in Indonesia, which takes talent that i don't have......and yet, following Malka's clear and concise instructions, i know i can do it......her designs are beautifully simple and graphic, while the colors are clear and bright (as hand-dyes can be)..i love that! This book inspires me to go out to my garage and try things i always thought i couldn't do.

I've always wanted to try dyeing and altering fabrics. I've also always admired Malka's high-quality vibrant fabrics and use them in my own quilt projects. So it was exciting to receive this book in the mail. The photos and explanations are clear and provide a careful guide to safely using chemicals in combination. Her projects are appropriate for a person with average sewing skills and will really show off the fabric you alter/create.

I love Malka Dubrawsky's blog and had been admiring her beautiful fabrics from a far when I discovered this book. A unique opportunity arose for me to experiment with this technique in my undergrad studies. I followed her instructions for wax-resist dyeing, and am in love with the results. I was amazed and incredibly happy that even the first batch of fabrics I batiked and dyed by her methods were beautiful and usable! I never thought I would be able to do something like this myself, but she makes it so easy! Wonderful instructions, it is now a staple book in my craft room! I'm not sure if I ever would have experimented with wax-resist dyeing if it wasn't for this book! She makes it so accessible to the everyday sewer! :)

If you are looking for techniques to amp your home sewing, this is a good book to give you some great ideas. The author's personality shows through in her words, her cloth, and her designs, and that's great - for the most part. Her colors and designs are unique and fun. My personal preference is for MY personality to show in my work, and so following step by step directions for this cloth isn't going to happen in my studio. I own a pretty extensive library of surface design books, many at a more advanced level with perhaps more sophisticated results. This is a very good beginners book and hopefully one that will lead new fabric artists to more original designs and techniques on their own.

I am thrilled to have purchased this book. The instructions are easy to follow and I have now made several "fat quarters" that are beautiful with the techniques outlined in the book. Love it and looking forward to the next.

I believe there is some dangerous information in this book regarding stopping the bleach. The author uses vinegar.
Please check the links below showing the dangers of stopping bleach with vinegar before you expose yourself to such dangerous chemicals.

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This is a very detailed and well written book. Definitely a good buy if you want to dye and create your own patterned fabric.