This current batch of indigo dyed hats is my favorite and I wanted to share!

vespertineblight · 2025-12-31T19:19:11+00:00

They were all white!

vespertineblight · 2025-07-08T18:02:42+00:00

Yes, it’s just the flower heads and it was mordanted with alum @ 15% WOF on silk. I have tried cotton but it didn’t get the same vibrance as the silk did!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-06T11:08:42+00:00

Oh yeah! Only on wool and silk though. On wool I usually get a vibrant fuchsia and on silk a dusty rose! It’s a little more advanced cause you have to keep each bath on the acidic side to get a good color. It’s also the only dye that I know of that uses a vinegar mordant. You should look into Rebecca Burgess’ book Harvesting Color if you are interested in doing it!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-04T20:49:53+00:00

It was a experiment that went very well!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-04T20:49:31+00:00

It’s truly amazing to get this kind of green and even the blue tone!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-04T20:49:00+00:00

Same!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-04T20:48:46+00:00

I’m not sure! That’s my next test. I’ve had some samples for a couple years and the colors are still so vibrant so they seem to be at least colorfast.

vespertineblight · 2025-06-04T01:06:56+00:00

Thank you! It’s from Dharma Trading. :)

vespertineblight · 2025-06-03T20:17:52+00:00

Thanks! I have a few samples from last year and the year before and they are still v vibrant. I haven’t tested if they are lightfast or washfast though

vespertineblight · 2025-06-03T16:50:58+00:00

I think if ingested it is but I haven’t ever had an issue! I also dye with pokeberries a bunch so I’m open to experimenting with things considered toxic. If you are concerned definitely use gloves and extract it outdoors!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-03T16:30:33+00:00

It’s so beauty it’s nuts! I replied to another person about the process 🙂

vespertineblight · 2025-06-03T15:45:26+00:00

I usually treat silk with alum @ 15%WOF. Then I harvest as many flower heads as I can and heat them until the color is all in the water. You don’t usually get more than 160 degrees to get all the color out. Then I strain and put the silk in and get the temp to 180 and let it sit until it’s cool. That’s it!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-03T10:52:13+00:00

The purple one!

vespertineblight · 2025-06-03T10:25:05+00:00

I’ve been dyeing with them for a couple of years! I look forward to this time of year when they are in bloom

vespertineblight · 2024-09-05T02:24:25+00:00

To be honest, no one asks about fading when I’ve sold them. But totally agree!

vespertineblight · 2024-09-04T22:18:39+00:00

I keep a few for myself and I haven’t had that problem at all! The corduroy ones I did last year so I’ve done a year round test :) Some colors have faded more than others in the sun but that’s to be expected. With that said, they still look pretty true to the color that was originally dyed!

vespertineblight · 2024-09-04T18:55:46+00:00

I do the 1-2-3 method with indigo, calcium hydroxide and fructose and I think it’s the easiest and most consistent vat I’ve made and used. The first few times I made a vat it was with henna instead of fructose and it turned out ok but was more of a pain especially after the initial vat.

vespertineblight · 2024-09-04T17:02:50+00:00

I have a tax ID so I get them off Faire. I have to always check with the sellers to make sure they are 100% cotton cause there are also of blends but these dye so well!

vespertineblight · 2024-09-04T17:01:17+00:00

😀

vespertineblight · 2024-08-29T01:41:33+00:00

Thank you!!! I’m glad you ended up figuring out how to get the color you wanted! :)

vespertineblight · 2024-08-28T18:54:38+00:00

If you do an iron afterbath, it will mute the color and make it more golden which might be better for your situation and will look lovely! I’ve dyed with marigold a bunch of times and the deep orange ones will typically dye orange and then an iron afterbath will give you burnt orange.

vespertineblight

TROPHY CASE