Whip air into the vat as if you were making whip cream. Woad generally has a lower content of indigotin and gives weaker, more pastel-esque shades. thanks. Starting a new dye project? For each 450g (1 pound) of goods add 10ml (2 teaspoons) synthrapol and 20 g (4 teaspoons) soda ash. When mixing powders and water always add the powder to the water. So it'll soak into anything (including your fingernails. I used the 'Ferrous Vat' recipe on the information sheet you sent with the indigo. With the exception of the ferrous vat, the organic vats and the workhorse vat may be used as compost by following this procedure. On the top of the vat, air oxidizes the indigo, resulting in blue indigo pigment. It will dye 900 g (2 pounds) of fibre a medium blue. Today I made my first attempt at an indigo vat. If the indigo flower has gone from a dark indigo blue to light cobalt blue, it may be time to add more indigo. So we use Michel Garcia's recipe 1-2-3 Organic Indigo Vat. Later the surface of the vat was rust coloured. Such a perfect pdf. If it is too high, then add some more fruit juice and wait a little, the pH will decrease. Made available in powder form, it is preferred to be used in batch dyeing method where these provide fine dispersion characteristics as … There are also indigo recipes out there that use toxic chemicals, and we also (obviously) aren't interested in that. I think you will have success if you change your lime. This is called "wetting out" the indigo. When a fire isn't realistic, we use a burner with a propane attachment. Dyed using an organic banana vat. Clearly label all containers and substances. The first shades obtained from your vat will be strongest. Pour the hydrated indigo into your vat or starter solution, using the lid to keep the marbles in the jar. Maiwa’s natural indigo generally tests at between 40 and 45% indigotin. I usually add a bit more water 9about 1/2 full. They did alkalizer (lime) with iron. With an indigo vat, it can get tricky making sure the pH balance is JUST RIGHT. Some fibres will benefit from being oxidized under water. So I followed the instructions, hydrating the powdered indigo with marbles in a plastic container, adding the ingredients as recommended. Add half a cup of mash (not the liquid) stir, and cover for the night. It will dye 900 g (2 pounds) of fibre a medium blue. The famous “indigo flower” will appear in the vortex. Once your vat is made, stir the vat gently. Wear gloves!). Adding more indigo should be your last option. But one thought. After a long day of dyeing, a vat likes to go to bed with a full stomach. I ordered the indigo through your online site. A vat is more easily maintained if it is checked on a regular basis. Garden Lime is calcium carbonate - different to the Lime used in Indigo vats. Use the above recipe and hot water. Fill a large pot so that cloth or yarns are covered and not crowded. Important: You must use the indigo vat as soon as it's ready! How shoud I handle the washing proses after i finished dying silk in indigo dye?Shoud I youse sope? Stir the vat, wait for the sediment to settle, then submerge a basket into the vat. The complexity is not with the treatment of the fiber, but rather with the treatment of the vat. SLOWLY add the calcium hydroxide. THE INDIGO VAT. I have a supply of this I would like to use up before ordering some natural indigo. The piece is agitated in a bucket of cool water for at least ten minutes. Once you've got your indigo dye, you need to dye your yarn! A common mistake of beginning dyers is to try to solve all vat problems by adding more indigo. You can see the fish (which remains distinct) you cannot see the salt (which has dissolved). Fabrics marked PFD (Prepared for Dyeing) may only need a light scour or none at all (always test before omitting). Waited 24 hours, it looked reduced, but gave little color, Had read in past of experiments did with mini vats, fructose,henna, mineral (Fe) and they said could mix all but the mineral with the fruit/fructose. When using an indigo vat, it is good practice to keep yarns and cloth from touching any sediment in the bottom of the vat. Thanks again. You will increase the depth of shades by dipping more times. Pebbles found in my backyard used in the "Wetting out" process. i particularly enjoyed the fish and salt definition! Repeat this three or four times. Please be aware that an indigo vat is ready to use when there has been a good reduction in the vat and this can take some time in an organic natural vat. Indigo is magical because it is technically a PIGMENT. A recommended base for an indigo vat is calx (calcium hydroxide) also known as lime, pickling lime, or hydrated lime. If using a plastic container you can supply heat with an immersion heater. To learn how to use scour, and to learn how to create an indigo vat, with very detailed instructions, pick up a copy of our book, The Modern Natural Dyer. It is dyed through a living fermentation process that does not require any mordant. Generally the item to be dyed is wetted before dyeing, however some resist techniques require the item to be added dry. These specks are indigo pigment created by oxygen in the vat. The process “reduces” the Indigo, changing it from blue to yellow. Add all of the indigo called for in the recipe and mix well. The Indigo Dye Vat: Prepare the indigo vat 1) Pour about 2½ litres of boiling water into a stainless steel saucepan or stock pot. These vats may be revived until the amount of sediment becomes problematic. I have tried lots of different combinations of measurements but have found what I think is the sweet spot. Notice how the fiber is still a bright green after pulling it out of the vat- this is because it hasn't fully oxygenated yet. 1) Scour the cloth or yarn. The fibre is worked in the solution, or “vat… Fill slowly and avoid adding air to the water. In the intro to the recipe it states that the '1,2,3' vat is a cold vat. Also wonder if adjusting the vat for dying silk or wool is different than for cottons and other plant fibers? In order for the reducing agent to act on the indigo, a basic environment is required. A vat may be revived by the addition of a gentle heat or the addition of a mini-starter. The vat will form a bronzy surface. Proper scouring is absolutely essential to good dyeing. Thank you for sharing your stories and knowledge. Let the fiber rest at least 5-10 minutes between dips. This product represents the state-of-the-art in pre-reduced Indigo Liquid, with over 115 years of indigo production experience. A single length of cloth torn in two — soured on the right, not scoured on the left. Has anyone tried to use organic vat methods with fresh leaf indigo.