 Morris took up the practical art of dyeing as a necessary adjunct of his manufacturing business . He spent much of his time at Staffordshire dye works mastering the processes of that art and making experiments in the revival of old or discovery of new methods . One result of these experiments was to reinstate indigo dyeing as a practical industry and generally to renew the use of those vegetable dyes , such as the red derived from madder , which had been driven almost out of use by the anilines . Dyeing of wools , silks , and cottons was the necessary preliminary to what he had much at heart , the production of woven and printed fabrics of the highest excellence ; and the period of incessant work at the dye @-@ vat ( 1875 – 76 ) was followed by a period during which he was absorbed in the production of textiles ( 1877 – 78 ) , and more especially in the revival of carpet @-@ weaving as a fine art . 
