COLOR DESIGNS IN CLOTH 249 



fabric is that of the mordant ; when the fabric is later trans- 

 ferred to a dye bath, the mordanted portions, represented by 

 the design, unite with the coloring matter and thus form the 

 desired color patterns. 



Unless the printing is well done, the coloring matter does 

 not thoroughly penetrate the material, and only a faint blurred 

 design appears on the back of the cloth ; the gaudy designs 

 of cheap calicoes and ginghams often do not show at all on 

 the under side. Such carelessly made prints are not fast to 

 washing or light, and soon fade. But in the better grades of 

 material the printing is well done, and the color designs are 

 fairly fast, and a little care in the laundry suffices to eliminate 

 any danger of fading. 



Color designs of the greatest durability are produced by 

 the weaving together of colored yarns. When yarn is dyed, 

 the coloring matter penetrates to every part of the fiber, and 

 hence the patterns formed by the weaving together of well- 

 dyed yarns are very fast to light and water. 



If the color designs to be woven in the cloth are intricate, 

 complex machinery is necessary and skillful handwork ; 

 hence, patterns formed by the weaving of colored yarns are 

 expensive and less common than printed fabrics. 



