Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
In addition, this page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Home › Miscellaneous › To color Cotton Blue
To color Cotton Blue
Put ten pounds cotton, two and a half pounds copperas, in fifteen to twenty gallons water, and boil two hours; after boiling, take out, rinse in clear water, refill kettle with water, and add one-half pound prussiate of potash. Boil goods in this half an hour, lift out goods, and slowly add one-half pound oil of vitriol; return goods, and boil half an hour. Rinse in clear water and dry.