The Colours of Nature by G-ULD
CONTENT:
• A short history of natural dyeing with plants in
Nordic culture.
• A beginner’s guide on how to get started with
natural dyeing and collecting plants in nature.
• An overview of colours and fibres suitable for
natural dyeing.
• Recipes for dyeing with fresh and dried plant
material.
• An overview of plant materials to collect in Nor-
dic nature and which to buy such as madder
root, cochineal and indigo.
• A guide to preparing yarn and fabric for dyeing
that lasts.
• A guide to tools used in the various processes
dyeing.
• 8 recipes covering mordanting, dyeing with fresh
and dried plants as well as historic dyes such as
indigo, madder root and cochineal.
In October 2021 we publish an English language print edition of our popular Danish book about natural dyeing,
En Farverig Verden (2015). The book is a simple, easy-to-follow guide to getting started with natural dyeing, introducing
and giving an overview of colours, plants, fibres and tools along with basic recipes for lasting colours.
The primary focus of the book is dyeing on wool but it also briefly introduces other fibres and woven fabrics.
Plant dyeing is thought to be difficult and to demand several years of experience to achieve a good result, but that is
not necessarily so. Plant dyeing is an activity in which everyone can take part. It does not demand any particular skills
and good results can come even with the first dye bath.
The book is based on our personal experiences with natural dyeing and how to achieve a good result.
Some knowledge of the basics will serve you well when you start out. Therefore, we have put together a beginner’s
guide on how to collect plants, how to interact with nature and how to recognize the plants that give the best, most
beautiful colours.
Natural dyeing with plants is an exciting adventure to embark on, bound to give you extraordinary experiences when
you encounter the interaction of nature and craftsmanship.
We live in a world in which time for losing oneself in a single task and carefully labouring on a handmade item to a
high degree has had to make room for technology and mass production. Furthermore, we currently notice a tendency
to view the pursuit of handmade crafts as acts of overachievers. However, for modern people being completely absorbed
in creative activity can provide much-needed relief and be a stress-buster in a busy everyday life. We believe that 21st
century people need unique elements in their lives and that items crafted slowly are worth waiting for.
At G-uld we know firsthand what the craft of natural dyeing has to offer even today - we have lived this for years, work-
ing every day at the dye pots. Natural dyeing can be regarded as a workout for body as well as soul. You will walk for
hours in nature, get to know new plants, feel the wool, smell the dye bath, test your patience, think creative thoughts
and feel the happiness of pulling YOUR yarn out of the dye pot.
With our different backgrounds as a trained archeologist and a graphic designer, we have one foot in the past and the
other in the present. Despite our differences, we both feel strongly that old crafts must not die out. We want to see
them live on - but in a context which makes sense for modern people.
Most importantly, we want to pass on the fascination of nature’s resources and the crafts of former times. Therefore it
is important to us to reach a larger audience with an English edition of our book
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK:
• Titel: The colours of nature
• ISBN 978-87-998678-1-3
• Release date: 15th October 2021
• Author: Anne Støvlbæk Kjær &
Louise Schelde Frederiksen
• Publisher: G-uld I/S
• Language: English
• Format: 17 x 24 cm
• Weight: 615 g
• Number of pages: 160
• Printing house: Narayana Press, Denmark
• Graphic design: Anne Støvlbæk Kjær
• Editor & Translation: Hanne Kær Pedersen &
Julia Billings
