Abstract: A versatile carpet dyeing applicator capable of producing novel and visually pleasing multicolor pattern effects ranging from apparently completely random to fairly well-defined. An inclined distributing plate such as a conventional doctor blade extends across the width of the carpet web, transverse to the direction of web travel, with a lower edge of the distributing plate positioned so that dye flowing off falls on the carpet web. Means, such as a conventional dye pickup roller rotating in a dye supply trough, introduces liquid of a base color onto the distributing plate at an upper edge thereof to form a base color dye film initially flowing substantially uniformly downwardly over the distributing plate.