S H I B O R I

SUPPLIES:

For the dye bath

  • 5-gallon bucket with lid

  • 4-gallons warm tap water (80-90 F)

  • 1/3 cup Jacquard pre-reduced indigo

  • 1/2 cup Soda ash (sodium carbonate)

  • 2 oz. RIT color remover

Other stuff

  • Stir stick

  • Tarp

  • Rubber bands

  • Clothesline and clothespins or drying rack

  • Natural fibers to dye

  • Gloves

INSTRUCTIONS

Making indigo vat

  1. Fill 5-gallon bucket with 4-gallons of warm water (80-90 degrees F)

  2. Add 1/4 cup pre-reduced indigo powder, stir with a stick

  3. Add 1-packet of RIT color, stir carefully, wear mask if sensitive to fumes

  4. Add 1/2 cup soda ash, stir

  5. Cover with lid and allow the bath to brew for 30-minutes

PREPARING & DYEING FABRIC

  1. Option to pre-wash fabric, in my experience this did not affect the outcome.

  2. Fold, tie, scrunch…

  3. Option to scour (soak fabric in water to get all the air bubbles out, this helps preserve the longevity of the dye bath and reduces the need to scoop the flower off the top).

  4. Scoop the bubbly “flower” on the top layer off, getting this on your fabric will act as a resist (not always a bad thing).

  5. Dip the fabric in the vat, stay in the center, for about 5-10 seconds.

  6. Squeeze out excess dye and rest on tarp until the green turns blue, this completes one cycle.

  7. Dip your fabric as many cycles to deepen the indigo saturation. A reminder that as the fabric dries and is washed, it will lighten about 20%.

  8. Reveal the art and hang dry for 24-48 hours before washing.

WASHING

  1. HOT WATER WASH after the fabric has been air drying for at least 24-hours. If you do not wait, the dye will blend and bleed and appear fuzzy. Not the end of the world but your washer and dryer could smurf.

  2. Dry on high, dyes need the heat to fix into the fibers.

  3. After one wash your fabric should be good to wash with other items. If you are unsure, wash separately a few times.