The Knitted Rug Page 9

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The depth of tone in indigo dyeing is always made by overlaying tone after tone of color on the fabric. Take the hanks of thread, prepared by the reserve method for dyeing the mottled green, and dip them in the vat in the same way only do not dye them as dark as the thread which is to be kept plain green. All thread must be rinsed thoroughly, or until none of the dye runs off in the rinsing water. A thorough rinsing is one of the most important processes in dyeing because it prevents what is mistakenly called fading. Fading is actually due to the action of light on dyestuffs. Loss of color on fabrics which have never been properly rinsed, is caused by the loosening of dye particles not actually attached to the fiber. The loose particles of dyestuff are taken off in rinsing or, as the professional dyer would say in the "milling" of the fabric, and later loss of color, or fading is thus prevented. When the action of water on dyed fabrics causes loss of color and the dyestuff runs "bleeding" is the proper term to use. Technically speaking there are only two terms to apply to the nature of dyes. They are either "fast" or "fugitive." Fast if they resist the action of light and water, and fugitive if they do not.

When "She" as the craftsmen of long ago preferred to call their indigo vat is in good condition, the liquor in it is a dark amber color, and becomes covered with a dark blue scum of "flurry" when stirred up with the rake. If the liquor in the vat is greenish, it shows the presence of unreduced indigo, and more copperas must be added. If on the contrary, the color of the vat is brown, more lime is needed. After using a vat always stir it up with the rake, and after allowing it to settle test the color of the liquor, adding the necessary ingredient and stirring again. After a final settling it will be ready to use. Before using al-ways skim the flurry off the vat with a wooden skimmer.

Greening with Quercitron Extract, over Indigo Blue: "Greening" is the dyers' term for dyeing green with any yellow dye over blue dye. The extract of quercitron, which is our yellow dye, is the inner bark of a tree called the quercus tinctoria. When soaked in water it gives out a yellow dye for cotton fiber.

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The Craft Of Handmade Rugs - View The Rest Of The Book

Introduction - Some Old Time Rugs - A Word About Dyes - The Braided Rug - The Scalloped Doormat Or Tongue Rug - The Crocheted Rug - The Hooked Rug In Cotton And Wool - The Needle-Woven Rug
The Colonial Rag Rug - Some Applications - Newer Methods Of Stencil Making - The Tufted Counterpane
Old Time Lights - The Batik Or Wax Resist Process