Our First Dips in the Indigo Vat

The sun was shining and it was time for our first dips in the indigo vat.  Bryan had to resuscitate the vat by the front door of the Best Exotic Indigo Hotel.  A balance of water, slaked lime, indigo and deoxidiser.  The expert touch knows what to do.  I likened it to making a batter for a Yorkshire Pudding - how much milk do you add to the flour and egg?  Until it looks and feels right!  No exact measurements. 

 The sulky indigo was soon blossoming.

Bryan had installed a new vat especially for the Tour.  It needed the delicate, expert mixing and it also needed a blessing, cue saki and incense.  This vat was made with purchased indigo.

My first piece of indigo resist dyeing was this piece which I dyed using the "chopstick" method, itajime shibori.  

 Where the chopsticks hold the fabric the dye cannot penetrate and so the cloth stays white.  Some of my sisters refolded their fabric and redyed it to create a squared design, I liked the bamboo (or maybe X-ray) pattern and left well alone!

Cynthia and Nat had fun at the indigo vat.

 Nat and Myra showed off their itajime while Janine was wondering how hers was going to look (and I don't know who the bottom belongs to!).

Our pieces dried in the sunshine on the lines outside the house

and on the convenient hedges and bushes.

After another practice tenugui (hand towel, above) I was very pleased to create this beautiful cotton shawl (centre) which I was delighted with.

PS 1 For more details about the indigo vat please have a look at Bryan's blog: 
stinking-indigo-vat-at-my-door
or just sit down with a nice cup of tea (green, of course) and start at his first post......

PS 2  I saw the doctor this afternoon and as I explained I'd picked up a little cold in Japan and then my head started to explode during the flight from Tokyo to London she said, "I bet you've got sinusitis".  A few questions and probings later and the diagnosis is confirmed, mega antibiotics prescribed.  I don't feel any less ill than I did but I feel a whole lot better now I know why I feel so wretched!  Thanks for your good wishes, they are appreciated.