Butternut Hulls {Juglans cinerea) 



The bark, root, leaf, and hull of the butternut tree, found in the woods 

 of the Eastern and Central States, are all used for dyeing. The mature nuts 

 are gathered when still green and allowed to ripen partially. The hulls are 

 then ready for use ; they may also be dried and stored for future use. 



Butternut produced the warm brown hue found in many overshot 

 coverlets woven in the Northeastern States during the 18th and 19th 

 centuries. 



Brown \Vool: alum mordant 

 Colorfastness: good 

 1 pound wool 

 1 peck green butternut hulls 



Use alum mordant (see pages 67 to 68). Cover the hulls with water, soak 

 for 30 minutes, then boil them for 15 to 30 minutes. After the liquid is 

 strained, add cold water to make a dyebath of 4 to 4}^ gallons. Before 

 immersing the mordanted material, thoroughly rinse it and squeeze out 

 excess moisture. Immerse the wool; heat to boiling; boil for 30 minutes, 

 rinse and dry. 



To obtain a darker brown, follow the above recipe. Then transfer the 

 dyed, unrinsed material into a boiling bath containing one-sixth of an 

 ounce of ferrous sulfate (copperas) and 4 to 4)^ gallons of soft water. Boil 

 for 10 minutes longer, rinse and dry. 



Greenish Tan Cotton: alum mordant 

 Colorfastness: fair 

 1 pound cotton 

 1 peck green butternut hulls 



Use alum mordant (see pages 67 to 68). Follow directions for dyeing 

 "Brown Wool" (above). 



Gray Cotton: alum mordant 

 Colorfastness: good 

 1 pound cotton 

 1 peck green butternut hulls 

 \i ounce ferrous sulfate (copperas) 



Use alum mordant (see pages 67 to 69). Follow directions for dyeing 

 "Brown Wool" (above). Without rinsing, transfer the yarn or cloth into 

 a boiling bath of ferrous sulfate. Stir carefully while boiling for 10 to 15 

 minutes, rinse and dry. 



Camomile Flowers, Yellow (Anthemis tinctoria) 



Yellow camomile flowers or golden marguerites bloom in fields and 

 waste places of this country. 



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