A TECHNIQUE DRIVEN Blog dedicated to mastery of surface design techniques. First we dye, overdye, paint, stitch, resist, tie, fold, silk screen, stamp, thermofax, batik, bejewel, stretch, shrink, sprinkle, Smooch, fuse, slice, dice, AND then we set it on fire using a variety of heat tools.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Thursday's Surprise

Hi!
This is Judith again and today we are offering a piece of my indigo fabric and pre-reduced indigo so you can make your own indigo vat.

This last summer Beth and I tried indigo dyeing for the first time.  It is like magic.  With MX Procion Dyes you have to soak and batch and rinse and wash before you know what color and pattern you have.  With an indigo vat you only need to dip the fabric and let it sit in the air for a few minutes (no more than 5) before you have results.  When the material comes out of the vat it is green but as it is exposed to oxygen it turns blue.  How deep a blue will depend on how many times you dip the fabric.

Indigo dyeing is also very addictive.  I mean, what's not to love?  Instant gratification.  I dyed all the fabric I had brought to our play date, then some of Beth's fabric, and then considered undressing and dying my clothes (I did resist that urge but it was really really hard!)  Speaking of resisting, I tried a variety of methods including folding, twisting, overdyeing, shibori, wrapping, and clamping.


Detail shot

The piece I am offering is an overdyed and folded piece of cotton that I think is stunning.  Yep, I am giving away one of my bests. First I snow dyed the fabric then I folded it twice for two separate dips into the indigo vat.  It kinda looks like a stained glass window I think.  The material is, I think, 1/2 yard wide and the width of the bolt long. The long sides are hemmed.  I do have a ton of other indigo pieces and am willing to negotiate. Check them out here and here.


The pre-reduced indigo is from Dharma.  Yep, love Dharma.  Here is a link to a short history of Indigo which includes a link to a recipe for the vat.  You will also need soda ash and thiorea dioxide (Dharma dyehouse color remover).  If you don't already have those supplies you can order them through Dharma.  Links to them are on the same link as the pre-reduced indigo.




As always, if you would like to win the material and indigo then leave a comment on this post.  The winner will be announced on Saturday.

Good Luck!

66 comments:

  1. Your stained glass piece is gorgeous!

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  2. Beautiful piece. I would love to win it.

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  3. Beautiful colour. Thanks so much for sharing

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  4. Indigo dyeing is on my list of things to try. Your gorgeous fabric is inspiring.

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  5. Wow, that's beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  6. Indigo is my neutral. I enjoy working with indigo dye and and the varied results. Great giveaway!

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  7. Oh yikes.....I'm betting we will all be tripping over ourselves to win this giveaway!!! Thank you for your generosity!

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  8. Wow! Your work is stunning. Thanks for offering this beautiful fabric. Fingers are crossed here.....

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  9. Gorgeous! Indigo dyeing is #1 on my "To Do" list for next summer!

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  10. Beautiful, addictive Indigo... your sample is wonderful! Indigo is a passionate go to process for many textile enthusiasts and certainly the link to a magical dye technique to have at hand when time allows for some good, serious fun. This is a lovely offer and I have time this summer for Indigo play with a few friends. Thanks and will be watching to congratulate the winner!
    Bethany

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  11. I first played with indigo on vacation last fall -- it is magic! Transformation before your very eyes. Judith, your pieces are beautiful. I love the use of color in the overdyed piece you are giving away, and also #4 (the wavy one) and #8. Did you silk screen on a resist in #8? Thanks for sharing the beauty you create and your craft.

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  12. I think your fabric is gorgeous! I would love to try indigo dyeing! Thank you!

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  13. Over dyeing using indigo? This is beautiful!

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  14. Just waiting for the weather to warm so I can try this!

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  15. have done a lot of procion dying but always thought that indigo was too hard. would love to win it Thanks so much for this week of giveaways.

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  16. I love Indigo dyeing however it seems so labor intensive but you make it sound so easy! I am sure I will attempt it again now that you have made it look so easy, Love the overdyeing idea. Thank you!

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  17. I love Indigo dyeing however it seems so labor intensive but you make it sound so easy! I am sure I will attempt it again now that you have made it look so easy, Love the overdyeing idea. Thank you!

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  18. I would love to experiment with Indigo, so pretty!

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  19. Love your complex piece. Indigo can be so much fun.

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  20. Indigo is addictive, indeed. I've combined with eco printing with great success.

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  21. I'd love to win. I've done some indigo dyeing and would love to do more.

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  22. I love, love, love to dye. I have used natural dyes, procion dyes, acid dyes, eco dyeing, tea, coffee, reversed dyeing (discharging). Once, I did indigo dyeing and loved it. This year I will learn to ice dye.

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  23. I have never tried indigo...looks fantastic!! I have learned so much from you all playing and having fun. Thank you so much. Hoping to win. Pam

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  24. I have never tried indigo...looks fantastic!! I have learned so much from you all playing and having fun. Thank you so much. Hoping to win. Pam

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  25. I have been wanting to try indigo for a very long time. I believe this spring/summer is going to be that time! Love what you did with yours! I would love to win this!

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  26. Gorgeous fabric. I find any form of dyeing to be addictive, so I understand your being tempted to dye anything within reach! I've ended up with a stash of hand-dyed fabric just waiting for me to be inspired to do something with it. BUT there's always room for more wonderful indigo art fabric. Thanks for donating this.

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  27. I have never done indigo dyeing before and would love to try it.

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  28. Please, please, I want this--I would love to try indigo, I love indigo. :)

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  29. BTW, gorgeous piece of fabric. I want it too. :D

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  30. Wow! What a generous offer. Your piece is stunning. And working with the indigo sounds very fun.

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  31. The link to the pre-reduced indigo isn't working for me. In case that is so for others as well I fetched another from Dharma http://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/pre-reduced-indigo-crystals.html

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  32. Gosh, you are making me want to win these prizes every day!!! I have never tried indigo dyeing but would like to give it a shot.

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  33. Beautiful fabric! I'd love to try my hand at indigo dyeing...

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  34. Love the ice dye and the indigo just sets it off! Would be wonderful to work with.

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  35. Beautiful piece, the colors are spectacular.

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  36. oh, my, and I already am addicted to dyeing. this sounds so tempting. I would love to win this.

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  37. Gorgeous fabric! I would love to give this fabric a new home! Thanks for sharing it.

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  38. Looks like fun!
    And what a beautiful, generous gift from the heart!

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  39. Judith - your work is absolutely gorgeous!! What a lovely piece of inspiration to giveaway!!! Thank you!

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  40. These are all quite amazing!!! laura

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  41. Yeah for indigo! It's magical and thanks for your descriptions of the layering of techniques - great results. More play to be had!

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  42. Love indigo dyed fabrics and your piece is gorgeous. Would love to win it. Mary Ann

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  43. Oh, i am so lusting after this beauty! I loved the comment about taking off yur clothes and dyeing them right there!

    I dabble in dye with some of my guildmates, but this year I hope to really make some inroads into the craft.

    glen in Louisiana - where indigo used to be grown

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  44. I just started to dye with Indigo this past year and loved it also. I haven't tried it on a snow dyed piece yet. Yours is beautiful.

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  45. Its beautiful--my mind is turning, listening to what it would like to become!

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  46. Another great giveaway, thanks Judith! Winning your fabric would be awesome.

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  47. Indigo is magical! What a generous giveaway! Thanks!

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  48. Have you tried the 3-2-1 organic vat instead of more toxic additives? Your pieces are great -- I've had varying degrees of success with indigo. It's time to give it another go!

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  49. I covet that piece of fabric, Judith! Fabulous work!

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  50. Beautiful. I love the idea of overdyeing with indigo.

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  51. It would be hard to cut up this piece of indigo unless it is to make a wearable piece. Beautiful, and thanks for the chance.

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  52. Indigos are just beautiful pieces of fabric like none other.....sgriff57(at)comcast(dot)net

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  53. Beautiful fabric and yet another fun thing to try.

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  54. Lovely piece, I'd be honored to win it and the dye. sUe

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  55. Yikes - I am a day late, but would still like to be considered for the indigo! Thanks!

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  56. Gorgeous piece of fabric!!! I would love to learn to do some indigo dyeing.

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  57. That's so beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway.

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