Thursday, March 22, 2012

oh indigo



We are about to enter week four in my online indigo workshop with Glennis Dolce, and I am having a blast. I still don't really understand the exact chemistry behind this dye process, but I love the instant gratification of dipping the cloth into the vat, pulling it out 2 minutes later and watch it turn from yellowish green to blue in an instant. Magical.






I am working with two vats - one is a pre-reduced natural indigo vat, and the other is a 1-2-3 vat originating from French indigo dyer Michel Garcia. The pre-reduced vat involves using both soda ash and thiox (color remover) and I am sure that the indigo crystals themselves has undergone some chemical treatment to become "reduced", so to call it natural is probably a stretch. But it does give a nice, nice blue color, especially after repeat dips. The 1-2-3 vat consists of nothing but natural indigo powder, powdered fructose, and powdered pickling lime. It was ready to use after just a few minutes, smells sweet and delicious, and dyes the loveliest pale shades of blue that builds up to a rich medium blue over time.




We are also working on some shibori techniques, such as clamping, and scrunching (my term). The scrunching creates the nice sky like pieces. And the folding and clamping is just fun, fun, fun... I am so happy to be messing with dye pots again.


10 comments:

  1. I agree; they're all beautiful and I look forward to seeing what they become in your capable hands! (But of course, I would understand completely if you decided to do nothing more with them because they are lovely just as they are!)

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  2. Now that's my sort of washing on line....what a beautiful line up of indigo dyed fabrics. You will be spoiled for choice when clothmaking now!

    Jacky xox

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  3. Love them, with all those cloths drying in the air...beautiful skie results!

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  4. fascinating, Lotta. Must be amazing to witness that color shift! -sus

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  5. l love indigo. thanks for sharing your imagesxlynda

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  6. Oh so fabulously dyed indigo fabrics! So inspiring!

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  7. Just love, love, love these, so awesome, really beautiful

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