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18th Century Dyes
This web page started out as a question: did anyone dye linen red in the 18th century? We know they dyed woolens and silk fabrics red, but the evidence for red linen was sparse. It eventually turned out (thanks to some digging by a fellow reenactor) that there is a little evidence for linen being dyed red, but it doesn’t seem to have been as common as some other colors. On the other hand, one finds plentiful references to cotton, wool and silk being dyed red. Most modern people’s experience with natural dyes is of a home-made, occasionally blotchy or spotty, uneven product. In the 18th century, dyers were professionals – they…
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Dye Recipes
Indigo Hydrosulfite Dyebath For 1 lb. Linen or Cotton, or 2 lb. Wool ¾ tsp. synthetic indigo (if using natural indigo, use double — 1-1/2 tsp. indigo) 1 tsp. sodium hydrosulfite (reducing agent) ½ tsp. lye (sodium hydroxide—can use Red Devil lye) Dye vat: we used a five-gallon plastic bucket, with a lid, from the hardware store. Mix above ingredients with a small amount of water. Allow it to sit until the liquid turns yellow. Fill the dyepot with warm water (around 110°) . Sprinkle 1 tsp. sodium hydrosulfite into water to reduce oxygen. Add a small amount of the dye solution (about 1/3 cup) into the…