Customer Reviews

Tie Dye! The How-To Book

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

 

 

This book has excellent illustrations on how to tie-dye but I was disappointed that there were no pictures illustrating the final product. For someone with limited knowledge of tie-dying, I had to guess what the project would look like after it was completed. Otherwise, it is a very helpful guide.

This book was an excellent how-to book for beginners. I found the diagrams of how to tie the fabric very helpful. Great for school teachers, or camp because it also contains alot of history and origens of tie dye. This book gives specific directions and ingredients essential to successfull tie-dye.

Virginia has a good starter book for tie-dye, but like the majority of tie-dye content - only skims the surface. I prefer Jacquard's "Tie Dye To Die For & Batik You Can't Resist" book at $5.95 vs. this how-to book. To be fair, I would purchase it to see her lovely tie-dye work, but as a "how-to" I might look elsewhere.

Michael Fowler

I was very let down when I saw this book. it is basically the same book she wrote a few years ago. It has more history and chit chat...but I couldn't find any new patterns. Her last book said that certain patterns would be available in her next book, coming out soon. Maybe I missed one? I am surprised that a spiritual community would be deceptive in their marketing of this book. While it is an excellent book, it is not a new book.

This book gives you a quick overview of tie-dyeing. It provides you with directions, five designs with color pictures and, best of all, sources for tie-dyeing. I read it in one night and was on-line ordering products.

I've purchased several tie dye books and DVDs, this is my primary "go to" book. Author does a fantastic job:

1. Tells you at a high level the end-to-end process of tie dying

2. Has text, accompanied by black and white photos on how to tie.

3. Has at least one color photo of each finished tie dye project.

You will understand how to tie dye several different types of patterns, and be successful at your first attempt, if you follow the information and advice.

I am a beginner tie-dyer who bought this book as I'm looking to start hand-dyeing. When I received it, I was impressed by some of the photos, particularly of the mandalas, but disappointed by the small number of ultra-simplistic designs she gave, the sketchy directions, and the poor design of the book (the photos showing pleating/folding, tying and dyeing are B&W; you have to flip to the back of the book for color photos of the tied and finished item).

It wasn't until I received an amazing tie-dye DVD, extremely generous in the scope of its instructions and designs ("Learn How to Tie Dye" complete 3-volume set) that I realized how deficient this book really was. Another reviewer gave it as his opinion that Ms. Gleser would prefer you not to succeed; I would agree. Perhaps she's afraid of competition?--surely a groundless fear. Her extremely generalized instructions leave a lot to chance; you might end up with a decent item, but you're much more likely not to. She gives no tips to ensure success or make the process easier (and after decades of successfully selling tie-dye, she must know a lot). To add insult to injury, at the back of the book in the color plates are pictures of beautiful mandalas made by "tie dye experts" from her business. Yet there is not a word of instruction on how to make them. The implication, to me at least, is that she's happy to make money selling her unhelpful book to novice dyers who don't know any better, but she feels it's only the esoteric society of expert dyers like herself who are privileged to know the secrets of the more advanced techniques.

Don't waste your money on this book. I returned my copy. Buy the DVD mentioned above instead; it's a bigger investment, true, but the amount of clear, step-by-step guidance, helpful advice and design inspiration make it worth ten times the purchase price. Tie-dye is an art form, and art is only passed on when it's taught and demonstrated by generous teachers, not jealously guarded.

This book is pretty good, but if you really want to know how to tie dye and get really bright results, this is not the book for you...
I was expecting some secret techniques for how to get the bright rainbow variations, how to keep the white areas white during a rinse and first wash...reviews of some dyes out there...and I didn't feel this book covered that area too well....but

The folding instructions are great!
easy to follow and I got some amazing results...
I was just frustrated with the actual dyeing recipes and techniques, I needed more detail in that dept.
but all in all
this is a pretty good intro to tye dyeing book!

I purchased this book and found the folding techniques to be very useful. I got tired of making the same tie dye circles and was looking for something different. This book shows several detailed folding instructions to get different results. This list of resources in the back was helpful as well.

This book was the best starter book I've found on tie-dye. The steps are easy to follow and many resources are given on creating great tie-dye from scratch. I've met the author at craft festivals where they show the clothes. They are amazing people and create incredible artwork. Better than anything out there. The eldest son just inherited the business and I look forward to what new things they create. Their company is Harmony Enterprises and are located at: http://harmonytie-dyes.com