The Dyer's Companion (The Companion Series) [Spiral-bound]

Dagmar Klos (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Companion Series | Publication Date: April 1, 2005

An essential reference for anyone who wants to dye fabric or yarns, this accessible guide offers indispensable information on equipment and supplies, types of dye, safety procedures, and record keeping. Step-by-step dye recipes that produce consistent and successful results are provided. Beginners will gain the confidence to add color to fiber while seasoned textile artisans will discover useful tips and hints. An eight-page color section with 100 skeins of yarn in a range of color gradations and an explanation of the fundamentals of color theory provide dyers with encouragement to explore their own dyeing variations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Waterstones Newsletter:There's really not too much to say about this book, except that if you are looking for the most comprehensive and practical reference book on dyeing threads and fabric, you have found it. It has a spiral binding, and tells you everything you need to know, from materials to techniques to different kinds of dyes to terminology and colour theory. Measurement tables for exact dye quantity measurement are also included, as well as a visual (photo) guide to dyed wool in primary and secondary colours, as well as chromatic graduations.The main downside of the book is simply is that it could be prettier. Excluding the colour charts mentioned above, the only illustrations are a couple of line drawings (literally only one or two). If you have never dyed anything before, you may find other books on the subject give better step-by-step visual guides to the process ('Natural Dyeing' by Jackie Crook is beautifully illustrated throughout, but specifically with regard - obviously! - to natural dyes). As a reference book, however, it can't be beaten.

About the Author

Dagmar Klos is a dye master, fiber artist, and teacher. She is also the copublisher and coeditor of the Turkey Red Journal, a newsletter dedicated to natural dyes. She is the recipient of the Handweavers Guild of America's Certificate of Excellence in Dyeing. She lives in Chicago.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 120 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931499519
• ISBN-13: 978-1931499514
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,155,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packing in everything from dyeing recipes to disposal advice, March 11, 2005

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dyer's Companion (The Companion Series) (Spiral-bound)

Any crafter who works with fibers and fabric and is interested in custom dye work will consider this little spiral-bound book an essential reference packing in everything from dyeing recipes to disposal advice and a color section of color-graduated yarn samples. The Dyer's Companion is no mere 'how to tye dye' craft book, but a serious fabric artist's guide to working with color in diverse materials.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential to anyone interested in dyeing yarn, August 21, 2005

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dyer's Companion (The Companion Series) (Spiral-bound)

From indigo to synthetic vat dyes, the procedures, safety precautions and methods to create your own beautifully custom colored yarns is in this small but power-packed spiral manual. I myself had prepared an indigo bath once, and enjoyed watching the slightly yellow bath turn greenish yarn startlingly blue-jeans blue when shaken in air (Utterly fascinating. If you teach school chemistry or home school, this manual could be a semester of science work.)

Everything is included here, from equipment to recipes to weights and measures. In addition are suggestions on how to keep records (important if you want to reproduce anything again, and a full color section of yarn swatches.)

Dyeing is fun, whether you use Kool-Aid food dye or prepare natural materials like barks, roots or berries. But there are safety measures to heed, so I recommend this book as an essential if you want to undertake this art in your fiber work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative companion book, April 5, 2008

By 

K. R. Andrews "kandrews41006" (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dyer's Companion (The Companion Series) (Spiral-bound)

I was a brand new dyer when I got this book. It's full of great information, and has lots of math and precise measurements for all types of dyeing. As a beginner, I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of information, and didn't really need 2/3 of what was in it. But now that I'm a little more advanced, I really appreciate the different sections on different types of dye and how they react differently. There is a great section on color in the back, as well as conversion charts that I use ALL the time. It really is a companion book, and not one to teach in detail about one particular dye method, but great to have for quick reference.