Materials list

3 plastic 1 litre jugs

1 2 litre jug
1 scoop
1 10 litre bucket
wisk
vapour mask
Ingredients
100g salt
30g soda ash
20 g sodium hydroxide
30 g indigo vat grains

Step 1:
MEASURE ALL INGREDIENTS IN INDIVIDUAL PLASTIC JUGS TO SPECIFIED
WEIGHTS

Step 2
FILL 10L BUCKET WITH WARM WATER 3 /4 FULL AND 2L JUG WITH COLD
WATER

Step 3
GET EVERYTHING IN ORDER IN PREPERATION FOR MIXING

DILUTE SALT IN HOT WATER AND ADD TO 10L BUCKET OF WARM WATER

Step 4
DO THE SAME PROCESS WITH THE SODA ASH AND ADD TO 10L

Step 5:
PLACE MASK OVER NOSE AND MOUTH AND POUR THE HYDROXIDE INTO
2L JUG OF COLD WATER WHILST STIRRING WELL WITH WHISK UNTIL ALL
IS MIXED
Step 6:
SCATTER AS IF MIXING FLOUR INTO CAKE, THE INDIGO VAT GRAINS
INTO THE 2L JUG OF WATER/HYDROXIDE

Step 7:
THE LIQUID SHOULD TURN THE COLOUR OF PEA GREEN SOUP
UNDERNEATH THE BLOOM OF INDIGO FROTH.

Step 8:
ADD THIS TO YOUR 10L BUCKET OF PREMIX, STIRRING UNTIL FULLY
MIXED

LEAVE TO SETTLE FOR 20 - 30 MINUTES

Step 9: NEXT STAGE

SOAK YOUR DESIRED GARMENT/CLOTH IN BUCKET OF WATER TO
ALLOW FABRIC TO BE FULLY POUROUS

Step 10:
READY TO PROCEED WITH DYEING, CLOTH ENTERS VAT AND IS GENTLY
MOVED IN THE VAT FOR 2 MINS

Step 11:
REMOVE AND HANG ON LINE AND WATCH THIS MAGICAL OXIDATION
MIRACLE OF NATURE TURN GREEN TO BLUE BEFORE YOUR EYES, THIS
WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 - 20 MINS TO FULLY FIX THE INDIGO DYE.
REPEATED DIPS WILL DEEPEN THE COLOUR AND THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL
PROCESS TO MAKE THE DYE FAST AND LONG LASTING. WE
RECOMMEND A MINIMUN OF 5 DIPS,

Step 12:
It is important to understand that this process relies on a vat which has been de-
oxygenated and made alkaline by the ingredients. the vat is a delicate thing
where the indigo cell requires a peaceful ride, any excess activity, eg splashing
removing or thrusting cloth and creating bubbles will bring air into the vat and
neutralise the indigo, therefore it is very important not to hurry and to be and to
be gentle when moving cloth in the vat, taking particular care when lifting out so
as not to disturb its particular balance, if treated carefully and covered at the end
of each session the vat will be useful for many days. the process of fixing the
dye substance happens entirely through its exposure in oxygen and rotating and
moving pegs or opening folds will ensure an even dye coverage, because of this
unique process blocks and folds can be placed onto the cloth to create patterning
in resist as anything that doesnt see sunlight or air stays its original colour the
possibilities are infinite, see our next tutorial on shibori, the discipline of folding
and clamping.

n.b this mix will give a mid to dark (see pic) indigo blue if you want a stronger
shade you need to up the quantity of indigo grains keeping the other ingredients
the same quantity. Likewise if you like a duck egg blue the amount of indigo vat
grains you would need would be less, approx 5gm. experimentation will guide
you.
it is important to stress that despite quantity of indigo in vat you must always dip
at least 5 times to get a lasting colour, the Japanese start at 25 dips!!