Traditional Scottish Dyes: And How to Make Them

This is a reissue of a book of recipes for dyeing wools. Scotland has a tradition of famous tweeds and tartans and is renowned throughout the world for the manufacture of cloth. In the past, dyeing methods were jealously guarded secrets handed down by word of mouth from one generation to the next. Jean Fraser, in this practical guide, has gathered together many of the old recipes before they become lost to us, though there has been a resurgence of interest in natural dyes in recent years. The collection of recipes is gathered from both local and scholarly sources, and is recommended for costume historians, as well as for dyers. This new edition includes a list of addresses of people who practise natural dyeing. It contains instructions for every stage of the dyeing process: how to choose a plant giving a suitable colour; how to recognize the plants; and when to pick them.