The book will be one that novice or master should enjoy and pretty much covers all types of fabrics from knobby to smooth as well as why some dyes set up well on one type of texture and not so well on another.

If you love to sew or have a streak of clothing adventure check the book out and discover the pleasures of making some special clothes for yourself. And the price is excellent!

The book starts out with a great explanation of the types of dyes, paints and pigments available. It then covers techniques and tools including good safety advice and fabric preparation. Tips for over-dyeing, stitching and direct application are here too.

Next, thickened dyes, gutta and watercolor techniques are used to create painterly effects. Tied-resists follow including finger-pleated silk and nouveau shibori. Then batik, block- printing and marbling are taught. The instructions are excellent with detailed step-by-step processes accompanied by photos. However, be aware the projects here teach techniques. There are no templates or the like so it would be nearly impossible to create an item identical to the ones in the book.

The best part of the book is the chapter on color theory and dye mixology. It thoroughly explains the cryptic instructions that come with dyes and how to create your own recipe card.

The galleries are awesome. There is one for each section and each includes at least eight different artists displaying their work with the basic techniques used. A directory of all the artists including phone numbers is included in the appendix along with lists of supplies, schools that have degree textile programs and a glossary of terms.