It is dyeing with Aul ( Al) Tree Root Bark that makes the Kotpad Fabric unique. In this area, roots of Al trees, which belong to Morinda genus are used for dyeing red color. Mainly the roots of Morinda citrifolia, Linn and Morinda coreia, Buch-Ham (earlier known as M. tinctoria,Roxb.) are used for dyeing red, maroon and brown colors The process of dyeing with Aul ( Al) Tree roots is as follows:
Al Dyeing Process
Pre-Dyeing Process
• Al roots are first dried and preserved. They are powdered just before dyeing.
• The yarn is first oiled using caster oil and ganji, the rice starch solution.
• Then it is treated in the solution of cow-dung and ganji and is dried in sun after it.
• When the yarn dries, it is sprinkled with kharpani, an ash solution prepared using ash of wood or residue of some of the local crops. The yarn is kneaded using either hand or feet. This process is continued three to four time each day for about 15 days.
• Then it is washed in river and dried. Now the yarn is bleached and is ready for dyeing.
Dyeing Red Color
• The bleached yarn is soaked in the solution made using powdered Al dye and water.
• It is then kept overnight in the dye vessel and boiled with the dye at least for one hour.
• The dried yarn is treated with Kharpani and dried again. This process is repeated thrice, which deepens the red color.
Redyeing for Achieving Maroon Color
• Red dyed yarn is beaten and wetted using kharpani .
• Al powder is sprinkled on it on fera, the wooden plank.
• Then it is kneaded with legs and re-dyed by boiling in Al dye powder in the same manner as earlier.
• This second dyeing dyes yarn in maroon color.
Redyeing for Achieving Dark Brown Color
• To dye the yarn in dark brown color, the maroon dyed yarn is dyed third time using Hirakashi ( Iron Sulphate).
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