Lessons Learned from Our First Indigo Dye Vat

 

Our First Attempts to Dye with Indigo

Never assume you remember how to do things from one year to the next! Every summer, for the last 6 years, I have made or tended a vat of indigo for dyeing. And everytime, I have been deeply satisfied with the results. However, I had never made a dye vat using fructose, something new for me; I had been using the older method of lye and thiourea dioxide. 

After days of adjusting temperature, reducing it with fructose and checking ph, I realized that when I made the mini dye vat, I used almost boiling water (don't do this!) and essentially destroyed the vat. So I started again, with instructions.

Traceable Indigo

Keeping with our goal of being able to trace the dyestuff we use, we tried Maiwa’s Traceable “Living Blue” indigo chips from Bangladesh.

I tried an electric grinder but blue dust flew everywhere.  The second try was more successful with a hand grinder, it was better at keeping dust down and getting a consistent fine grind. 

                   

 

 

Our goal was to try indigo dyeing
on our waffle weave scarves woven
with  Rambouillet wool singles.
We were happy with  the gorgeous
ombré steely blue effect.

 

 

 

Parkland Wool
The natural whiter wool gave us a cooler icy blue. Stay tuned to seeing it in future designs.

BFL/Gotland lamb fingering weight yarn from @riversidebrisco  (gorgeous btw)
The warm undertone of the wool resulted in a teal blue. 

Dip, dip and dip some more

 

 So now we have a better idea of what we are doing. Fermentation vats of any type (be the sourdough, sauerkraut,  kombucha, kimchi to name a few) take practice to master. Kylie is the maven of all cookery. We are in capable hands and look forward to doing this again, and again, and again.

 

Our initial adventure/foray into indigo dyeing began with enthusiasm and curiosity. We carefully prepared our dye vat, eager to see the transformation of our natural parkland wool into vibrant shades of blue. However, we encountered an unexpected challenge – the temperature. 

In our quest to balance the dye vat, we initially thought we were missing sugar, an important component in the dyeing process. We spent time troubleshooting and experimenting, trying to achieve the perfect equilibrium. Through trial and error, we discovered that patience and precision are key in this intricate art form. The Results? totally unexpected beauty. 

 Despite our early missteps, our efforts were rewarded with some surprisingly beautiful results. Our plain white Parkland wool emerged from the vat in stunning shades of iceberg and sky blues. The subtle, serene hues were a delightful surprise, showcasing the dye’s potential even when the conditions weren’t perfect.

 

With our white Rambouillet wool, we achieved a       gorgeous ombré effect in steel blue. By immersing the   scarf bit by bit, we allowed some parts to remain   exposed to the dye longer than others, creating a   beautiful gradient of colour.

 Our journey with indigo dyeing has been a puzzling   one.  A journey of learning and discovery. While our first   attempt wasn’t without its challenges, it taught us   invaluable lessons about the importance of temperature   control and the art of balancing the dye vat. We are   excited to continue exploring and refining our   techniques, bringing you more beautiful, naturally dyed   100% traceable textiles.

  Stay tuned for more updates on our dyeing adventures   and new collections. Follow us on Instagram and visit   our website to see our latest creations to be released   this fall.