The first time I saw a quilt by Malka Dubrawsky featured on a blog I was floored. Fresh, beautiful, unique, I was in love with this talented woman’s work. Her blog, A Stitch in Dye, has become one of my favorites. I was extremely excited when she first announced she was writing a book.
Well it’s here and it’s spectacular! Color Your Cloth: A Quilter’s Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric, is an opportunity to understand the nuts and bolts of how Malka creates her hand dyes and also a delightful window into her muse and creative viewpoint.

Color Your Cloth is both a technical how-to for the wax-resist process (batiking) and a project workbook.
Malka shares with us how to create a workspace, techniques for adding pattern to fabric, basic dyeing, and aftercare for waxed and dyed fabric. The techniques section includes stamping with found objects, how to use traditional wax-resist tools, patterning with brushes, and a section on discharging and overdyeing.
The book concludes with 12 projects including coasters, table ware, a reversible tote, a camera strap, pillow covers, and six quilts.

Each of the technical sections includes detailed, step-by-step instructions along with samples and pictures. Malka’s approach is very budget accessible. She delights in using supplies that can be found in thrift stores and around the home. Her studio garage features a cardboard box and push pins as the frame for stretching fabric for patterning. The book includes extensive pictures of her space and tools. It lends a feel to the book that you’ve shown up in her home for a day of learning.

Now back to Malka’s creative viewpoint. Here is one passage in her introduction that I have to share:
“For several years, I used those fabrics to make art quilts, but after a while, I came to feel that once again something was missing. As much as I enjoyed the “in-my-head” interaction that making these quilts brought me, I craved a more tangible connection. I couldn’t help but think back to the times I had made a gift for someone from my own hand-dyed fabrics. The recipient was always so touched by the extra effort and thought that went into crafting something for them from “start to finish”. I’d liken the experience to knitting a pair of mittens with your own handspun yarn; I knew that making items from my own fabrics that were both useful and beautiful would bring me that kind of connection.”

This is where the bells in my head went ding, ding, ding! In the past I’ve purchased and used quite a few hand dyed fabrics, all in traditional “art quilt” projects. At some point I hit a wall in wanting to create that type of project. Malka has taken hand dyes and shared her way to use those fabrics in new and innovative projects from everyday bed quilts to pillow covers and tote bags.

The book marries the patterning techniques with the projects. It demonstrates Malka’s clear mastery of pattern, color AND project design. I’m in awe of artists that can so clearly translate their expertise into terms understandable by those of us wanting to learn. Color Your Cloth left me feeling as though I can actually give this a try and be successful.


I received some of Malka’s beautiful fabrics along with the book. I created these simple housewarming coasters for a friend. It was a joy to be able to see the patterns demonstrated in the book and understand how they were created.
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A giveaway! Malka has generously contributed a copy of Color Your Cloth for one lucky winner. Leave a comment, I’ll draw a winner next Wednesday, November 11. Congratulations to Kathi D !





Perfect time for a perfect gift! (for me) Pick me??
Oh that’s a lovley looking book, please enter me in the draw.
holy entries batman.
The coloring on these pieces is absolutely amazing. I would love a copy of the book and a chance to try my hand.
Wonderful, put me in!
Julie
wow! absolutely fabulous!!!!
can’t wait to see the book!
gigi
Some good eye candy – please add my name –
thanks
i love the colors and designs………. i’ll be getting my own book, if i don’t win, but i’d love to be winner!
Oh Wow!! no one want this! (sarcasm and giggling) Sign me up because this is what the doctor ordered. Beautiful give-away. thanks.
Love to win ^0^
Great giveaway!
How generous! Thanks for the chance.
I would LOVE to win this book! The fabric and colors are gorgeous!
I’d love to win this book !
Thanks for the opportunity !
I just love Malka’s work and have been following her blog for quite awhile. I would love to be the winner of her new book.
Color just makes me feel so alive. I really respond to it and to Malka’s work. I’d be thrilled to win her book.
Fabulous colors and quilts–loved her mini quilt Mondays!
Thank you for the chance to win!!
Stunning colours and projects! Would love to have this. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love A Stitch in Dye! The second I saw the book, I put it on my Christmas wish list. (Oh, I hope, I hope, I win!)
Lucky you to have had the opportunity to preview this book!!! Stitch in Dye is definitely a blog I scour regularly – and don’t you love those patterns she has in Stitch (along with yours, of course!).
My fingers are crossed…. i’m trying to stretch out in my quilting – think this book would definitely give me a little (okay must needed) boost of confidence
Enjoy the day.
Hoping I win, it IS my son’s 14 bday Veterans Day!


Yes, he’s going to be a marine. make a momma cry
Niki in AZ
I recently discovered Malka’s website and love it – her voice, her style, her projects… the whole nine yards! I’d be thrilled to win her book.
I love the colours and patterns of the materials that Malka creates and uses in her designs. When you see them for the first time you can’t help but be “WOWED”
This book is full of inspirations of a high value as well as in instructional terms as in graphic designs. Malka is a most talented artist who inspires me again and again. And I also cherish the way you intruduced this book and the art of Malka to all of us. Thank you!
I would love to play with dyeing my own fabric. Thanks for the chance at winning a copy.
Hi,
I hope I am not too late and can still make it into the drawing.
)
Thanks for the generous post. And, more important, the inspiration
I’ve been reading Malka’s blog for a long time too, and I’m excited to see the book one day soon! And, when I say “reading,” I mean drooling over her great photos! I was referred here by her and I’m looking forward to peeking around your site a bit, too.
From a knitter and wannabe quilter…
I love her colorful projects and would absolutely love this book!!!
Beautiful book.
am i too late? hope not as this book looks like it is brimming with inspiration
The coasters are so cute.
Love your coasters!
If it is not too late I would love to enter. I am a big fan of Malka’s too and found this via her blog.
Beautiful fabrics…It makes me want to give it a try!
Probably too late for the drawing, but this book is amazing!
I’ve never really been a fan of dyed fabrics, but these are unbelievable!!
[...] reviewed Malka’s first book, Color Your Cloth, last year. The first book covers her dyeing process and methods. What an amazing follow up! Fresh [...]