I’ve been playing in my indigo vat for the past few days. The pile you see here includes some of the results. I’ve dipped pieces large and small of old vintage sheets, old hankies and napkins, doilies, placemats, purchased commercial fabric, bits of lace, and a cotton Matelasse bedspread.
Fabrics are cotton, linen, silk, and combinations of those. Some have been dipped once, some several times. I love to watch the magic as the oxidation process occurs.
When first removed from the vat, the cloth appears green. As the dye oxidizes, the blue appears. If a resist is applied to block the dye absorption, interesting patterns can be created.
The only resists I’ve tried are some tying of the fabric and a bit of folding. Already I can see how addictive this process can be. And though I’ve already peered into the rabbit hole of staining with tea and blackberries, and then explored the browns, this lover of all things BLUE is tumbling headfirst into the indigo dye.
This third photo shows that I’ve started some projects using this most delightful fabric. I’m loving the work I’ve recently been doing with vintage linen; it’s so deliciously soft to stitch by hand. The photo shows a vintage baby dress appliquéd on linen now ready to embroider and quilt and some squares prepared for piecing. Both pieces use techniques I’ve learned from that amazing artist, Jude Hill. Her invisible basting stitch and paperless piecing technique have changed my stitching forever!
I haven’t limited myself to playing with yardage. If I took a selfie right now, you would see a cotton knit shirt and a silk scarf which have both spent some time in the indigo vat.
If I took a selfie today my hands would not look quite as blue as the day I played in the dye vat. Leaky gloves – ugh! – but I am inspired to play with some delightful indigo fabric.
hey thanks for the shout out!
Thank YOU, Jude, for sharing your art and techniques.