Dyeing with natural indigo

Wonky Weaver Indigo Blue dye is derived from the botanical, Indigoferra tinctoria using a fully natural fermentation, extraction, drying, and powdering process.  There are no added chemicals, reagents or processing agents. This dye is an excellent rich quality and 100% natural containing approximately 40-45% indigotin which is the natural colourant in indigo - making it navy blue to very dark blue shades. Indigo can be used to produce pale blue through to dark blue colour shades. The indigo dye powder is concentrated and ideal for natural dyeing of cellulose materials such as cotton, linen and bamboo, and also perfect for protein fibres such as silk and wool.  Indigo should be used in a dye vat which can be set up using a multitude of recipes depending on dyeing preferences using a range of ingredients. However, we recommend a simple method using soda ash (for pH alkalinity) plus the use of an oxygen reducer such as Thiourea dioxide (also termed Spectralite or THIOX) if you want to achieve standardised and consistent results. You can also use Hydro Sodium Dithonate (also termed HYDROS) as an alternative oxygen reducer but you will require slightly greater quantity than THIOX due to differing efficiencies in scavenging oxygen in the vat.  Oxygen reduction is essential when dyeing with indigo. All of these indigo dye vat ingredients are available in our website shop. Alternatively you can purchase the Indigo dye kit which contains everything you need to get started with dyeing with indigo.  There are other kits available including iron, fructose and henna kits  - all great ways to experiment with indigo.  

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