Where to Start with Kristine Vejar
Kristine Vejar is a natural dyer, educator, and Fulbright scholar who began her study of plant-based dyeing nearly two decades ago in India. She owns A Verb for Keeping Warm, a yarn shop and natural dye studio in Oakland, California, where she teaches workshops and sells hand-dyed textiles. Her books combine rigorous technique with a global perspective shaped by her travels to dyeing communities in Iceland, Mexico, Japan, and Indonesia.
Start here
The Modern Natural Dyer
Kristine Vejar · 192 pages · 2015 · Easy
Themes: natural dyeing techniques, plant-based textile color, silk wool linen cotton dyeing, mordanting and color fastness, home dye studio projects
A comprehensive, beautifully photographed guide to dyeing silk, wool, linen, and cotton at home using plants, kitchen scraps, and natural dye extracts. Kristine Vejar walks you through every step with warmth and precision.
Why Start Here
Vejar wrote this book to be the one resource she wished she had when she started dyeing. It covers the full spectrum of natural dyeing: preparing fibers, choosing mordants, working with fresh and dried plant materials, and using concentrated dye extracts for reliable results. The 20 included projects range from simple scarves to home goods, so you get to practice technique while making something useful.
What sets this book apart is its balance of accessibility and depth. Vejar explains the science behind color bonding without making it feel like a chemistry textbook. She also includes a seasonal approach to foraging dye materials, connecting the craft to your local environment and the time of year.
What to Expect
At 192 pages, this is a thorough but not overwhelming guide. The book is organized logically: foundations first, then dye recipes grouped by color family, then projects. The photography by Sara Remington is stunning and serves a practical purpose, helping you gauge what each dye bath should look like at various stages. If you want a single book that takes you from complete beginner to confident dyer, this is the one.
Alternatives
Journeys in Natural Dyeing (2020, co-authored with Adrienne Rodriguez) expands the perspective with global techniques gathered from artisans in Iceland, Mexico, Japan, and Indonesia. It includes over 400 color recipes and is a wonderful second book once you have the basics down.