Before you dye our 100 % cotton or wool garment, (on blends, the dye might not take so well- I advise that you test a scrap piece before you dye the whole garment) you should mordant it so that it will accept the dye better.  There are three mordant recipies, each resulting in a different color in the finished product:

• for 1 lb dry wool use
• 4 oz Alum (aluminum potassium sulfate) whcih is available at any drugstore, just ask for it
• 1 oz cream of tarter (at the grocery store in the spices section)

    Dissolve above in 4 to 4 1/2 gallons water (use a pot big enough that you can stir the fabric around in it so that it evenly soaks through). After soaking in water and wringing wool, immerse in mordant bath and gradually heat till boiling. Boil gently for one hour, turning wool constantly and adding water to maintain the 4 gallons Remove the pot from heat, and allow the wool to soak overnight. The next day, wring the wool and rinse before dying.

• for 1 lb dry wool use
• 1/2 oz potassium dichromate

    Dissolve in 4 to 4 1/2 gallons of water (use a pot big enough that you can stir the fabric around in it so that it evenly soaks through). After soaking in water and wringing wool, immerse in mordant bath and gradually heat till boiling. Boil gently for one hour, turning wool constantly and adding water to maintain the 4 gallons. Remove the pot from heat, and allow the wool to soak overnight. The next day, wring the wool and rinse before dying.

• for 1 lb dry cotton use
• 4 oz Alum (aluminum potassium sulfate) whcih is available at any drugstore, just ask for it
• 1 oz washing soda (sodium carbonate- not the same as baking soda)

    Dissolve in 4 to 4 1/2 gallons of water (use a pot big enough that you can stir the fabric around in it so that it evenly soaks through). After soaking in water and wringing well, immerse the cotton in the mordant bath and gradually heat till boiling. Boil gently for one hour, turning fabric constantly and adding water to maintain the 4 gallons. Remove the pot from heat, and allow the fabric to soak overnight. The next day, wring the cotton and rinse before dying.