We get lots of emails from customers about challenges with dyeing and needing Botanical Colors’ President Kathy Hattori’s help. Why not share the learning so we can all benefit? From our inboxes to you, it’s simple: You Asked, Kathy Answered. Email questions@botanicalcolors with your plea for help!
YOU ASKED: I am doing some indigo dyeing and a friend mentioned using an indigo bucket heater to keep the temperature of the water at the correct temperature. She mentioned you sold them, but can’t find them on your website. Do you stock them? If so, where can I see them? If not, do you recommend a certain brand or style to purchase? She also mentioned a mesh basket you can buy to put on the bottom of the bucket or pot to prevent fabric/yarn from touching the indigo sediment that collects at the bottom of the put. Do you know where I can purchase these baskets?
KATHY ANSWERED: Bucket heaters are a favorite of indigo dyers as they can quickly warm a 5 gallon vat which makes it both a bit more comfortable for dyeing and helps the vat ingredients “activate.” An indigo bucket heater is generally available at feed and farm stores and at large online retailers. They are actually really used to keep livestock water troughs from icing over, warming liquids and other agricultural uses. I like the type that looks like a 18″ long wand with a stainless perforated guard around the heating element. We use them in plastic buckets but we do watch them carefully.
We will use some type of strainer or colander or drill holes in a plastic bucket to make the tool that you are talking about. The purpose is to prevent dropping tiny items into the vat and to also keep the goods out of the sediment at the bottom of the bucket. The basket can something as simple as a plastic food strainer that fits in your vat. If you have a large vat, we’ve used plastic laundry baskets. Anything in between can usually be fashioned with a smaller bucket that you drill holes into.
Shop our indigo dye bundles perfect for 5 gallon buckets! And when you bundle all three indigo vat ingredients, you get 20% off here.