singin’ the blues

yesterday I applied resist paste to 2 old damask napkins, the day turned humid and very damp, not good for drying the paste  

this morning I turned on a heater – in June! – to finish the job 

I also started dyeing yarn and fabrics in the new indigo vat

but when the mist turned into a drizzle and then a downpour and then I was called on to drive a neighbour to the emergency ward (with blue hands) – he’s all right thank goodness –  I gave up

started again this morning, the rain has stopped but now we have strong winds

starting at the left; the pale skein is rayon – I think. The next skein is handspun bamboo which is interesting because when dyeing the same yarn with other natural dyes I can’t get a strong colour. Then cotton and two old hand towels with crochet and embroidery. I like to recycle old linens but when dyeing with them the old stains will leave  different colour markings.

I scour all old linens before dyeing them, in the middle is a bleached linen top that was looking worn and now has a new life. 

More skeins of a mixed fibre boucle, some rags for sakiori and thrums for stitching.

the reason for all the work

when dyeing with rice paste resist you can only dip in the indigo vat until the paste starts to degrade and come away from the textile. Your level of skill and the state of the vat controls the depth of colour. 

I love the way indigo dyes over old damask, especially linen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

when working with old textiles and yarns from a guild give-away box you are never sure of the fibre content. It can lead to some surprises.

 

the single dragon is on a napkin with a circular pattern. I have a special use for it.

 

 

 

 

when I first take fabric out of the vat and squeeze it the air oxidizes the indigo  differently, it evens out as it is exposed to the air

 

the indigo vat after 2 days of heavy dyeing 

it is nowhere near exhausted – but I am!