Friday 19 August 2016

Failure

I watched my beautiful turquoise water (see previous post) turn to murky brown. This was my first attempt with indigo and I have noticed that many people either dye with the indigo before or after bundling with plants. When these have dried off a bit I will unravel and re dye in the indigo remembering to add vinegar, it helps if you read the instructions first, and see what happens.

5 comments:

  1. working with indigo is truly alchemical

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  2. Good luck with the re-dyeing Debs. I've never had a go with indigo, though it's something I'd like to do. Looking forward to seeing the results. x

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  3. I had been wondering about old descriptions of "Lincoln green" where you dye with woad, THEN weld. Where I'd have done the opposite, so I could mordant the yarn to hold the yellow better, then blue.

    But then I read recently that other dyes/substances/etc. contaminate the vat because residue bleeds out and render the indigo useless. So if I ever do manage to grow woad again I'm going to rethink my process. (we've been infested with slugs who eat all my dye plants, everything)

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    1. Interesting, that must be what happened with mine though I had a peek today and the silk blouse looks as if it is changing colour, quite green on the inside layers, will have to be patient and see what happens.

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  4. I am growing my own indigo this year and have a woad plant as well which I am hoping to collect seed from next year.

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