Aniline rug dyes

What to look for in aniline dyes
(a]Fading—loss of colour (maybe at one end or one side or on the tips of the wool).
(b]Plain flat colours.
(c]Change of colours, plum red.s to grey, or blue to slate grey.
(d]Most wool used is mill spun—two, three and four ply yarns.

In summing up, I would like to say that I hope I have not painted too black a picture as far as aniline dyes are concerned, because there are some wonderful rugs to be found containing them, and also the chrome dyes (another synthetic).

There is no substitute for experience, so take every opportun­ity to look at the wools and dyes of rugs at your local museum, and your eye will soon detect the difference (a good idea is to wear a colourful aniline sweater or cardigan and make the comparisons).