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RUG MAKING AT HOME 
Helen R. Albee 
Part II 
PREPARING THE CLOTH 
ALL cloth must be thoroughly wet before going into the 
dye bath. I find it easier to plunge the flannel into 
scalding water, and stir it about until there are no white 
dry spots left. It should then be drained and cooled (if 
one is inexperienced) for if very hot when plunged into the 
dye bath at a scalding point, the color may spot. Tem- 
perature plays an important part in dyeing, the hotter the 
dye, the more quickly the cloth absorbs the color; and it 
takes rapid stirring, lifting and spreading of the cloth in the 
kettle with two stout sticks to distribute "the color evenly. 
I find, for many reasons, that three yard lengths of goods 
are the most convenient for dyeing, and all my formulas 
are based upon multiples of three, which can be divided or 
increased at will. 
MORDANTS 
For mordants I use for every yard of fiannel, one-half 
ounce of Glauber Salts and three quarters of an ounce of 
pure undiluted sulphuric acid. Care should be exercised 
in the use of the acid, as it destroys all vegetable fibre, 
such as cotton, linen or jute; but when neutralized by 
Glauber Salts it merely sets the color in pure wool material. 
After measuring the acid I turn it into a small china vessel 
and add a little cold water, as it has a great affinity for water 
and a violent chemical reaction occurs when poured directly 
into a kettle of hot water. 
PREPARING A DYE BATH 
In preparing a dye bath for six yards of cloth, allow 
three gallons or more of water. Dilute f oz. of sulphuric 
acid and add to the water, stirring well. Then add 3 oz. 
Glauber Salts and stir well. The temperature should be 
about 150 degrees Farenheit. I do not use a thermometer 
as I can tell by the sound of the kettle when the temperature 
is right. If, however, the bath is too cold, the color will 
not take well, especially blues. 
Having prepared the bath, gather the wet cloth, already 
drained, in the left hand along the selvage at intervals, and 
drop it in, using the sticks at once, lifting the flannel up and 
down, spreading it out so as to distribute the color evenly. 
Continue this for at least five or eight minutes, until the 
tone grows somewhat even. Increase the heat and let the 
cloth boil for three quarters of an hour, stirring and lifting 
at intervals. A little experience is necessary to know just 
how much stirring must be done ; for, if too even in color, a 
rug lacks that life and variety which come from slight 
differences of tone. These differences are secured in three 
ways: by heat; by a greater proportion of dye; and by the 
amount the flannel is stirred. The less it is stirred, the le,ss 
uniform the color. When the color is well set there should 
be but little residue of dye left to color the water. If much 
color is left after the full time of boiling has expired, it is 
likely that more acid should be used. The acid absorbs 
water from the air after standing for weeks unless the bottle 
has been closely stoppered, and a little more of it must be 
used. Too much, however, dulls the color, particularly 
old rose and old pink. 
I should advise a beginner to choose some simple range 
of colors such as dark blue and ivory; old red, ivory and 
black; old blue and ivory, or green and ivory. It is difficult 
at first for one to calculate how much cloth of each color 
will be required in any pattern, so I always prepare more 
than I expect to use, that I may not run short. Then, if 
materials are left over, they can be used in the next rug 
calling for those colors. Do not attempt to use undyed 
flannel for the cream or ivory tones; the result will be a 
harsh crude white. 
In all of the following formulas each portion of the dry 
powder is dissolved separately in a pint of water, as before 
described, and the proportions called for are of the liquid 
dye. 
OLD IVORY 
Of \ oz. Bright Yellow take i teaspoonful of liquid 
Of \ oz. Dull Red take \ teaspoonful of liquid. 
Of I oz. Dark Blue take just a trace. 
Of \ oz. Green take i tablespoonful of the liquid to 6 
yards of cloth. 
Mordants: f oz. sulphuric acid and 3 oz. Glauber Salts. 
Dip the flannel in, and stir quickly until it is the proper 
tone. This color is the only one that is not boiled the full 
v of an hour. 
