Shading from dark to light colors is the result of submerging one
portion of the feather in the bath and withholding the balance. Great
care and not a little skill is needed to produce a satisfactory result.
There are various ways of handling the goods, covering up the portions
to remain the light shade or holding them out with the hands. Spotted
or speckled feathers are produced by first dyeing the light shade that
you desire to be spotted, and then wrapping around a round stick with
cord, according to the size you desire to have the spots, you will
regulate the weight of cord used. After having bound the cord tightly
around the feather and stick, which must then be tied firmly to keep
from slipping, pass through boiling water for a few seconds for the
purpose of expanding the wood and contracting the cord, thereby making
the cord much tighter. After you have made them whatever dark color you
desire, take out, starch and pass through dry starch; then remove cord
and dry your feathers, when you will find that the portion covered by
the cord will be the light shade, and the feathers have the appearance
of being dotted all over.
Natural blacks or grays can be speckled as follows: Go through the
same preparations of binding around stick with cord and degrading or
bleaching them white. The result will be that the portion covered with
cord will be same as before entering the bath, a black or dark brown,
and the body of the feathers will be white. Should you desire the
feathers dyed any light color to contrast with the dark spots; before
removing the cord, mix your bath and dye as per recipe, dry as before
directed, and the result is very beautiful. Some very nice effects
are produced in shading by taking natural grays or bioucs, that is,
feathers that are one portion white and the balance in spots, black.