I was given a small envelope of freeze dried indigo "powder" and am not sure how to use it. I seem to remember a microwave being mentioned but I don't have one of those. Does anyone have any experience with this stuff? I am excited about having this as I have been dying to weave something on my backstrap loom placing indigo dyed yarn next to cochineal red as the weavers in Chincheros have been doing.
Laverne
web resources:
John Marshall has taken the time to post manufacturer's instruction for instant indigo on his web page. It is located here:
www.johnmarshall.to/5-EDx-Dyes.html
While you are there cruise his web page and look at his wonderful artwear he creates. Take the time to visit his booth at convergence.
Cheryl Kolander has posted fermented indigo vat on her web page at:
www.aurorasilk.com/natural_dyes/dyes/dye_indigo.html
the yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalDyes has always been a good group to learn from and has many vendors on that list, they also answer questions although you should search their archives because most beginner questions are embedded in there somewhere.
Some other tips from what I've learned:
WEAR gloves. Secure skeins loosely with a loop or stick for rotation, keep them under water and rotate for 3 - 5 minutes, pull out and allow to drip into separate pot from your indigo pot so you don't introduce more oxygen in your vat. Open up the skeins and lay out to allow oxygen to interact with the yarn. I usually fiddle with my skeins for about a moment before I walk away from them and open them up to let the air into them. Allow to cure for about an hour, inspect them for color and reintroduce in the prepared vat if you want a deeper blue.
Teachers to investigate:
Liesel Orend, Northern New Mexico College
Michelle Whiplinger, Earthues
John Marshall
Have fun. Deb
Thanks Deb,
Plenty to keep me busy there!
another site with info about the pre-reduced indigo -
http://www.jacquardproducts.com/products/dyes/indigo/instructions.php
I have used it - mix it in warm water and adjust the ph appropriately with soda ash. A little goes a long way. It is nice for printing/painting with indigo.
Thank you! I will thoroughly investigate this before trying as I don't know when I will get my hands on more.
Here's another link to instant indigo (pre-reduced crystals)
www.paradisefibers.net/Instant-Indigo-p/2391.htm
instructions are probably more clear than the other instructions I've found, the internet is a reasonable substitute for an indigo pot grandmother!
Many thanks-adding all to my folder.
There are some instructions for a traditional chemical pot on my blog, http://entwinements.com/blog-mt3/2006/06/indigo.html#more.
I keep a pot around all the time, outdoors mostly. It freezes in the winter, but it easy to move when frozen so I bring it indoors and let it thaw then sharpen the vat. Otherwise I just sharpen it outdoors and keep all the blue drips out there.
