Ingredients

• Mordanted Hemp Towel Irregulars – 1 pack of 2 towels
• A light blue Indigo Vat – 1-2-3 Indigo Kit
• 10 grams (approx. 3.5 teaspoons) Weld Extract
• .2 gram of Soda Ash (or a generous pinch if your scale doesn’t weigh such a small amount)
• .2 gram of Calcium Carbonate (also a generous pinch)

Skill Level

Intermediate – Some experience with Indigo

PREP

15 mins for weld and 4 hours to build and cool an indigo vat.

DYEING

1.5 hours

TOTAL

Indigo Prep – 4 hours

Indigo Dipping – 30 minutes

Dyeing in Weld- 1 hour

This recipe is for an intermediate dyer with experience creating an indigo vat. It will work best if you have a light indigo vat at hand. Once the vat is made, you can use it for many other projects. Check out our instructions here on how to create a light blue vat and enjoy these vivid green towels!

• A non-reactive dye pot such as stainless steel
• A digital scale that measures in grams (Optional)
• A thermometer (an instant-read thermometer is good)
• A measuring spoon like an old teaspoon or tablespoon
• Stirring Spoon
• A few containers to dissolve powders
• Tongs
• A hot water source like an electric tea pot or a small pan of very hot water
• Heat Source ( stove, hot plate )
• Rags or towels to wipe up spills

These are all great tools to have to start your studio. Remember, dye pots are dye pots and no longer kitchen pots once you use them! It’s best to keep them separate.

Supplies available from Botanical Colors

Recipe

Step 1) Weigh the dry towels before wetting them for the indigo dip. Together, they should weigh about 200-218 grams. This recipe uses the 200g weight for our calculations, and you’ll get a very rich green with the weld.

Step 2) Make sure your hemp towels are soaked in warm water for 30 minutes before you begin the recipe to allow the fibers to be fully wetted out. Squeeze out excess water before dipping. This helps the indigo dye more evenly.

Step 3) Using your 1-2-3 Easy Fructose Vat, dip your pre-wetted hemp towels to a light shade of indigo. This is usually two short dips of about 1 to 2 minutes each dip. Oxidize and rinse very well.

Step 4) Measure and dissolve 5% weld extract, 0.5% soda ash and 0.5% calcium carbonate in very hot water. For teaspoon measurements, see the Ingredients box, above. Mix the dye liquid well to get out any lumps of weld dye. Fill a non-reactive dye pot large enough for both towels with room temperature water. Add the dye liquid to the dye pot and mix well.

Step 5) Carefully add the towels, turn the heat to low and stir gently and consistently for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, slowly heat the pot up to 140F, keeping the goods rotating gently in the dye bath. Hold at 140F for 45-60 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Step 6) Carefully remove your hemp towels from the dye bath with tongs and rinse in lukewarm water.

Step 7 ) Let the towels air dry away from direct sunlight. Congratulations! You have created a beautiful vibrant green set of towels!

Please let us know if you’ve tried this recipe. Tag us on social at @botanicalcolors. We love to see what you’re making! Also, did you know we have a YouTube? Sign up and subscribe as we will be posting video tutorials there, too.