This book is a practical guide for the preparation of textile dyes from lichens. Lichens are among the oldest sources of dyes (going back to Phoenician times) and even rather recently a knowledge of which lichens give good colors was relatively commonplace. But today synthetic colors are commercially more practical, and the subtle art of natural dyeing is being forgotten.<br>Fortunately, Eileen Bolton reminds us that on the modest scale encountered by the hand-weaver, the preparation and use of natural dyes can be fun and that the lichens are a rich source of colors.<br><br>After a short historical review and discussion of some botanically important aspects of the lichens, 14 common species of dye-lichens are described and illustrated in colored plates of pleasantly stylized paintings by the author. The name, common synonyms, and the British vernacular names are given for each species. Habitats are described and other information is provided to help the collector in his search for dye-lichens. Finally the methods yielding dyes from lichens with ammonia or boiling water are explained in detail. There is even an original recipe by which Miss Bolton induced Xanthoria parietina to yield a remarkable pink dye which turns blue in sunlight-a rare color all together among the lichen pigments.

Lichens for Vegetable Dyeing PDF

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