EVERY frugal housewife has frequent occasion to resort to Dyeing to restore faded but slightly worn garments and other articles of dress to the original or some other color, as well as to color yarns. But she has not always at hand the proper directions for making the dyes, and so many times the professional dyer is given the work.

In the following pages are such direction and recipes as will be found of great value in preparing the garments for and giving them the desired color. It will be observed that separate directions are given for Cotton and Wool as it frequently happens that the bath intended for woolens will not color cotton the desired shade.

This department contains a list of reliable and trustworthy recipes for all colors that can be made without the aid of an experienced dyer. The proportions are generally in such quantities as are needed most. In the fixation of color upon cloth, recourse is often had to a mordant, which acts as a middle agent and attaches the color to the cloth.

The principal mordants are alum, cream of tartar, and salts of tin. Previous to the application of any color, the cloth or yarn must be well cleansed from grease, oil, etc., by scouring in soda or soap; and except where the material is to be dyed of dark color, the goods are also subjected to the process of bleaching. In case of fabrics which require a smooth surface, the preliminary operation of singeing off the loose hairs is resorted to.

Note

Many of the within Dyeing recipes are taken from the Peoples' Cyclopedia, a work which is pronounced by the best critics superior to any other Cyclopedia ever published.