Roberta Brockschmidt

Although this book looks like a companion to _A Dyer's Garden_, the format is quite different. Largely black and white with few photos, it explores plants for more than simply their color producing qualities.

One chapter does cover dyes from 15 plants, with an extensive discussion on indigo-bearing plants. Also discussed are the history of dyeing, dyebaths, mordants, pH, safety, and record keeping, as well as specifics on dyeing wool, silk, and bast fibers.

Another chapter is devoted to plants for spinning, such as cotton, flax, various types of hemp, jute, coconut, milk weed, etc. Extensive details are given on how to cultivate and process cotton and flax for spinning.

Other chapters discuss: soap plants for cleaning textiles, fragrant plants to scent and protect textiles, plants used to make textile tools, and how to create a weaver's garden. A glossary is at the back of the book.

Though most likely to be picked up by weavers, this book actually has appeal to a much broader audience. Anyone who works with fibers and textiles would find it useful and of interest.

Unlike the author's other book "A Dyer's Garden" this book doesn't really contain any photographs of dyed materials or plants. Like most Dover publications it's printed on rather low-quality paper. That doesn't make the content any less interesting or useful, though! In the weaving section each plant is given at least a couple of pages with notes on the history of it's usage in weaving, growing information, how the plant has to be processed in order to utilize the fibers, and what the fibers are like to spin and the feel of the fabric that comes from them. ( )

14.99