Wool in the 19th Century - Part Two

Dyeing wool is a step that can take place either before or after the actual spinning process.  Early settlers in Ontario were dyeing their wool predominately to hide the dirt and filth on their clothes from their intense agricultural work.  They may not necessarily have an abundance of clothing, so to dye their one or two dresses brown would make going to church on Sundays less embarrassing because any dirt would be less noticeable.

Skeins of black walnut dyed wool

One of the most popular local dyes used in Ontario is mad from the shell of a black walnut.  Black walnut trees are native to Ontario.  In fact, many of the Pennsylvania-Dutch settlers that arrived in Ontario c.1790s-1830s believed black walnut trees to be a sign of fertility of the land, and would make their settlements near any growth.  This theory is explained in The Trail of the Black Walnut by G. Elmore Reaman, where the migration of the Pennsylvanian-Dutch from American to early Canada can be traced by the growth of black walnut trees throughout southern Ontario.  The black walnut itself can make a fantastic, and very intense, brown.  Perfect for masking any dirt!  After boiling the shells in hot water, you strain the water, and place the wool in the dye bath.  After sitting for just a few hours, you can get a fantastic brown dyed fabric!

This three-part series "Wool in the 19th Century" was written by Caroline Bendiner, Culture Coordinator for the Township of King.  She has a BA in history from Queen's University and a post graduate certificate in Cultural Site Management from Centennial College. Caroline has a strong passion for history and sharing history with the public.