The possibility of dyeing my own cloth to create a unique print has been fascinating me lately, especially the process of batik. I love the muted and earthy tones you can coax out of ordinary vegetation. While digging through my sewing room I came across some yarns that I had hand-dyed many years ago in a workshop. I had forgotten all about them until their recent discovery. These yarns show a small sampling of some of the colours available with found material.

Eco Batik T, a recent addition to the blogging world, has set a goal of explaining the art of making batik naturally with just beeswax and vegetation.

I also love the rich bold colours accessible with chemical dyes. I have researched many books on the subject but so far one stands out. Fibre Artist Malka Dubrawsky of A Stitch in Dye hand dyes cotton fabric to create her quilts and other beautiful accessories. (You’ll find her in my blogroll on the sidebar.) Her book ‘Color Your Cloth, A Quilter’s Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric’ is a wonderful source that explains how easy it is to set up and use a home workshop to dye your own fabric. I would urge anyone interested in this field to invest in her book as an invaluable resource.