Originating centuries ago, and made popular by hippie musicians like Janis Joplin in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, tie-dying is back – bolder and brighter than ever.

In this, her first book published by Metz Press, Melanie Brummer unleashes a fresh, modern twist to the ancient craft. With over 50 fabulous projects and patterns to choose from, the book gives clear instructions on how to breathe new life (and a swirl of colour!) into anything from tired T-shirts to drab decor.

Melanie doesn’t forget the novice in us though. Hot on the heels of a very complimentary foreword by SA fashionista, Marianne Fassler, the book launches into a thorough introduction to the art and carefully explains the equipment and materials required before doing and dyeing. What’s particularly helpful is that each project is graded according to the level of experience required – easy, intermediate and advanced. So no need to run before dyeing is mastered.

Contemporary dyecraft is superbly user-friendly and easy on the eye. It is well laid out, a breeze to follow and the photography is not only aesthetically appealing, but genuinely useful. A real gem.

Get more info on this title here.

• We caught up with contemporary dyecraft’s author, the self-taught Melanie Brummer. Read her tie-dyed, rags-to-riches story in the February issue of Craft Gazette.

Reviewed by Cara Visser

Published by Metz Press

Simply Fabulous Fabric offers lovers of textile art the opportunity to learn over seventy-five different techniques to inspire them when they craft with various fabrics. These techniques are taught in sections throughout the book, and include dying, stamping, printing and painting. The book opens with an interesting section on how crafters can record their inspirations in a journal, and use the journal when they begin to craft a project. This section is followed by a section on various types of fabric, and how to protect and care for them, and the tools needed for each project.

The projects in the book are wonderful, but what is really striking are the colours of the various projects in the book. Each project is more vivid and striking than the last, and it is impossible to not feel inspired to create when looking at them. The section on the various types of shibori (tie-dying) was fantastic, and is hardly the only section of the book offering new and exciting ways to try working with textiles.

A joy to look at and bound to inspire many crafters to new heights in their textile art.

Reviewed by Lauren Inggs

Published by Metz Press