Then...........

I had so much left in the vat and remembered the white zippered pillow covers I had purchased for indigo dyeing. I made three pair of pillow covers and one  singleton.

This one was done with heavy duty clamps

Plexiglas circles

Plexiglas squares

Had no idea how this would come out but gave it a try.

I like the results

Half yard pieces washed and dried.

wet results

Here they are with the technique name

Plexiglas circles

Batik with rope stamp

IKEA bag clips

Plastic chain

Square Plexiglas

Air vent

Marbles

PVC pipe

So the experiment to day was to ascertain whether the pieces would have more distinct figuring if they were allowed to drain and partially dry. The experiment proved without a doubt that the pieces were less figured, more monochromatic (with a few exceptions) and no where near as attractive as when opened immediately after removal from the vat.  

D-Day (dyeing)

These pieces were samples for the workshop for next week. Alternately I am using the fabric to make indigo dyed seat covers for my new car "Peace". Yes, I name my cars. This was a half vat (half the recipe). This is the "old" recipe ProChem no longer has on it's website. The new one is weaker and requires repeated dips which some people like. I want my fabric dark now!!

Before starting the indigo vat, I wanted to batik two pieces of fabric

Rope stamp and antique potato masher - a gift from Marcella.

 Above is my rope stamp

Potato masher

All of my projects. Starting from the top: Ikea bag clips, square of plexi (perspex), air vent, PVC pipe, folded with round plexi, plastic chain, and in the center, marbles. Although this bucket has a spout, the top is completely flat so I used some rigid insulation as a lid.

PVC in the vat

Air vent and square fold out and dripping.

Chain, marbles, and a clamped piece.

All just sitting there dripping. When they stop, I will open the "presents"........

Old Recipe

3 gallons of lukewarm water(12 liters)

2 Tablespoons of Thiox (24 grams)

5 tablespoons of pre-reduced indigo (40 grams)

3/4 cups plus 2 T soda ash (190 grams) dissolved in 2 cups hot water

Add in order

Stir without splashing clockwise then anti-clockwise.

Cover and wait 2 hours.

Remove and save bloom (I never do)

If you have questions use the contact form at the bottom of the page.

Samples for the Indigo Workshop

I started out with a whole piece of cloth that I was going to indigo dye. Then I decided it would be so much easier if I cut the fabric into half yard cuts. I washed and ironed the fabric then cut into half yards.

First piece fan folded then clamped with IKEA clips

Next cut was rolled on to a piece of  PVC pipe for arashi shibori

Two more cuts fan folded them clamped; one is square and one round Plexiglas.

Wrapped and gathered on plastic chain then wrapped with nylon string.

Penultimate cut with marbles wrapped with elastics

Last cut gathered on a piece of plastic air vent. (My favorite)

Next post will have the finished pieces to use as samples for the Indigo Workshop.

Kakishibu mat

This is the mat I made for the dancing dogs to keep them from rattling when I walk by them.

There is a lot of scope for projects with this fabric we will be making at the Maine Event this September. One of my friends suggested a collection of pillows out of various prints.

MidSummer Maine II day three

It has been an inferno today. We are all limp from the heat and humidity we are NOT used to.

Judith monoprinting

Nice chairs

Kates "Black Lives Matter" monoprint

Paula finishing up her piece.

Again here is Marcella's magic scrapbook paper prints. I forgot to add vinegar to the boil but did add MX dye in (color name) indigo. Unbelievable prints. You go girl!!

By this time we knew which plants printed well: coreopsis, chocolate cosmos, catalpa leaves, peony leaves, wild yarrow, smoke tree leaves, cransbill geranium. We all had a great time and cooled off with cantaloupe left after setting the ground hog trap and cold watermelon. Now for a shower, powder, and a soft chair.

MidSummer Maine II day two

Day two Student work

Today I demonstrated monoprinting on paper and cloth. In between the boiling and steaming which ate up a lot of time, we worked on monoprints and cloth book and stitched pages and stand alone pieces

Paula hard at work on a beautiful stitches piece (more photos tomorrow)

The other side of Judith's child's smock

Obviously happy with her results

Marcella running from the camera, Paula amused looks on...

Kate assembling her plant prints book

Sketch a subsequent monoprint. Oops, those pesky finger marks!!

Lobster pot steaming away. For those of you not lucky enough to live in Maine, the top pot has holes in the bottom and the bottom pot holds water for steaming. I've long since stopped cooking lobsters myself. Our grocery store does it at no cost. YEAH!!

These are amazing prints. Here are some of the possible reasons:

The Arches 140 lb watercolor paper was passed through a mordant solution of 1 quart water, 1/4 cup alum crystals and about a teaspoon of Miracle Grow (copper). The paper was passed through the solution, laid on plastic for about 15 minutes then the plant material was added to the pages and between signature. Then the packet was slid into a hardware cloth folder and clamped. This was steamed in the lobster pot. I also added a steaming basket to keep the packets OFF the bottom of the steamer. These pages can never touch to pot bottom or sides or the images run. Keep them up and in the center of the pot. You can stack packs but keep them from touching the pot's sides.

Part of her success what her (Paula) using coreopsis, chocolate cosmos and false indigo.

Judith's plants were also steamed in paper mordanted with alum water -(no copper) then each bloom was dipped in rusty water before placing between pages and signatures. I think she also added fabric (antique doll and children's clothes).