SECRETS OF HOME DYEING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19418, 28 August 1926, Page 6 (Supplement)

SECRETS OF HOME DYEING.

One of the most interesting of the many minor activities with which the housewife is confronted at this busy season of the year is that of retinting and dyeing faded curtains, cushions, and loose covers. Successful home-dyeing depends to a great extent on strict attention to defda.il, the use of a reliable dye, and the exercise of discretion in the matter of colours. In this matter of colours it is essential to remember that the original shade of the article to tie dyed must be taken into account. Thus, a deep yellow article which it is desired to turn into a green one will probably be more suces"iuJly converted by the use of a blue dye than by the use of a green one. The yellow treated with the blue will result in a good shade of green., whereas the yellow treated with green may become merely an un pleasant shade in which too much yellow predominates. Home-dyeing methods vary considerably, each housewife having, as a rule, her own pet ideas on the subject. There are, however, several main points which, if success is to be won, must always be carefully observed. The article to be dyed must first of all be thoroughly washed in a soapy lather and rinsed absolutely free of dirt and soap in cold water. The dye must be dissolved in the quantity of boiling water prescribed on the dye packet, and the necessary amount, of cold water added. Then the article should be completely immersed, and, with a wooden stick or spoon, stirred frequently as it boils in the dye. The dyeing utemilt. should then be removed from the gas or fire, and left for a quarter of an hour, care being taken to see that the article which is being coloured is entirely sub merged in the liquid. When the necessary time has elnnsed the article rr>usf lie rr moved from the dye and rinsed in several

lots of cold water until the final rinsin D water show* no sign of discoloration, li is imperative that the newly-dyed material hhould be unvvrmig. It must hung with safety pins on a line in the open air, so that the surplus water, can drain gradually away. By this method the clothes fine cannot make unsightly marks, and streakiness—that bi-gbuar of the amateur dyer—will be avoided. When the material is almost dry it should be gently pressed with a moderately hot iron.