indigo Dyeing Day

Last Saturday my local branch of embroiderers' Guild held a dyeing day using Indigo and Procion Dyes. I had done some preparation in a Shibori style on various fabrics such as cotton, turban cotton, silk and linen. At about 5 o'clock on Saturday morning I woke with a start and felt the need to apply some wax resist to some fabrics!! This i did hastily with a malted candle heated on the cooker and a brush.

 In fact when my husband came down to breakfast and I was surrounded by string, beads, melted candles, brushes elastic bands, and piles of cut fabric, his comment was this: "Are you doing hundred and one things before you dye?"

When us eleven girls met we set up an indigo vat. I was fascinated by the chemical process. Our complex bundles were duly dipped. They emerged green and, on hitting the air, the dye oxidised and turned blue.

I took a second dipping to mine as I wanted a darker shade.

When I got home they were washed and dried - I love them draped over the Aga.

In the afternoon we dyed using Procion dyes. One colour run each and then some space dying of threads and fabric.

I deliberately chose colours I never work with as a challenge to see what I can make with them. They are very cheerful in this rainy old weather. Here they are drying:

I quite fancy some prayer flags or bunting?? I don't know yet.

That evening I was in the garden and there were some lovely matching cornflowers crying out to be picked.

We all now have to make a 12" piece with our dyed fabrics for our next meeting in September. Watch this space!!