Dyeing Fun at the Jefferson City Fiber Retreat

The Indigo Dyeing class at the Jefferson City Fiber Retreat was a lot of fun.  Some people dyed silk scarves and silk squares using resist methods, or linen or cotton blouses, or yarns and rovings. The yarn can be dyed in successive dye dips to make it tonal.  I dyed 2 childrens' cotton T-shirts and a skein of wool yarn. 

I used tie dye methods to dye my shirts.  This one was very tightly rubber banded in a bullseye pattern.  We soaked the T-shirt longer than usual so the dye could penetrate better.  So, we soaked it about 15-20 minutes.

                                                         Tie-Dye Bullseye Pattern

I used a swirl pattern for the other T-shirt and tightly rubber banded it into pie segments.  The instructor was concerned the dye wouldn't penetrate and opened it up a bit.  Next time I think I'll try leaving it tightly banded and see how it looks.  We left it in the dye for at least 15 minutes and I took it out to let it rest and oxidize for about 20 minutes, and then put it in the dye for a few more minutes.

                                                             Tie-Dye Indigo Swirl Pattern

I also dyed a skein of wool yarn from Knit Picks.  I tied it securely in 4 places before dyeing it.  We soaked the T-shirts and yarn in plain water and squeezed out the water before placing in the dye vat.
I really like this color blue.  When the dye vat is used with many projects, each successive dye project gets lighter or grayer unless you add more dye crystals or Thiox.  The instructor did add more dye crystals half way through the dyeing (1 TBS more) and heated up the dye vat.

                                                   Indigo Dyed Wool Yarn, Worsted Weight

                                               Indigo Dyed Yarn wrapped into a skein. 
The first picture of the skein is truer to the color of the blue.  The instructor advised not washing the yarn until it has set for 1 week, and not washing the shirts until they have set for 2 weeks to really let the color bond.  She suggested using Orvis soap to wash them because it's a very gentle soap and not washing the shirts with Tide detergent because it can remove stains, and indigo is like a stain.  Use a gentle detergent for washing dyed shirts.

Notes:  Instructor, Ercil Howard. Recipe for 3 gallons using a stainless steel pot.  Heat the water to 70-120 degrees F but not over 120 degrees.  Recipe:  2 TBS. crystal Indigo, 2 1/2 TBS soda ash, 2 TBS thiox.  Wait 10 minutes.  Surface bubbles should be bright metallic shiny blue, not flat or dull looking.  Remove bubbles and foam with a wet paper towel or damp piece of cloth wiped across the flat surfaces.  Wool and silk: 3-15 minutes. Cotton, linen, hemp, raimie: 20-30 min.

Take out of dye and let rest; don't rinse yet.  Hang or lay fiber on a surface for 15-30 minutes to completely oxidize.  Otherwise dye will not bond to fiber.  Wet dyed fiber is always darker than dried fiber.

You can add it back into the vat if you want a darker blue.

We dunked our projects in a bucket of water with some lemon juice in it (just about 1 tablespoon or less).  You can use vinegar. Rinse in plain water for now.  Let dry and then let it sit for several days or up to 2 weeks. Then wash with Orvus soap or non-detergent soap for 10 minutes or longer.  Rinse until there is no cloudiness.  Wash cotton twice in washing machine separately or other fiber will be pale blue.  It is normal for indigo to crock (rub off).