Dyeing

The coloured blankets are produced by treating white stockfuls with an aniline dyestuff. The stockful will be placed into a winch-type dyeing machine with the bath filled with water and the cloth revolving in it so that it becomes saturated. It is now ready to be dyed. This can be done in two ways according to what type of dye is being used. If it is a cold water dye, the dissolved dye is added to the bath before steam is injected into it, but if a hot water dye is being used steam will heat the water to the required temperature before the dye is added. Both systems otherwise work on the same principle.

When the dye has been added the water temperature will be raised to boiling point and kept there for between one, two or even more hours to get the required shade. The cloth is kept revolving in the machine throughout this dyeing process to ensure there are no shade changes in the stockful. After boiling for the required amount of time it is then checked against the standard colour chart; if the colour is correct it can be rinsed off and after spin drying it will be ready for tentering. Glauber's salt and an acid are usually added to the dye bath before or during the dyeing process. The acid allows the dye to penetrate the fabric more easily and the glauber's salt helps to keep the solution together.

Mike French