Two years worth of naturally dyed indigo hankies.
Today I pulled the hankies that I dyed in the workshop at the Cambridge Historical Society the summer before last and the stack draped over the dining room chair since July and got to work.
I think it’s the cool weather, I find myself wrapping the Vintage Hankie Scarf I made years ago around my neck. A thin scarf, just enough too keep my neck warm and look good too.
I was also looking for something different to do in my studio.
My morning began with loading this winters hay in the barn. That done, I went to the Dollar Store to get a bar of Ivory Soap. That’s what Stephanie, (who invited me to use her Indigo dye bath this summer) told me to use when washing then rinsing the indigo hankies.
I grated the soap (so much like cheddar cheese) while boiling a teapot of water. The soap needs to be melted and it seemed the best way to make that happen.
Wash then rinse and rinse and rinse again and again and again….
…until the water runs clear.
At least nine rinses in hot water Stephanie told me. And for the hankies that I folded and wrapped with rubber bands, I rinsed them exactly nine times. But the hankies that were a solid indigo, it took fourteen rinses.
Two and half hours later, my back hurting more from standing at the sink than from moving hay, I put the hankies in the washing machine to spin.
As they dried under my iron they changed color once again. Sometimes the dye picking up the weave of the fabric.
The lace varied in color depending on the fiber it was made from.
As they dried the subtitles and deep contrasts were revealed.
The linens took the dye more softly, mottled, suede-like.
I truly believed at the start of the day that I’d rinse all the hankies and being sewing them together to make some scarves. But by the time I got done, it was late afternoon. Too late for my brain switch and be creative.
But after doing some shipping and feeding the animals, I did go back to my studio just to look at the Indigo hankies laid out on my floor.
Even now, looking at my picture of them all together, makes my mind hum….
Maria, the indigo dyed hankies are exquisite, thank you.
Deborah
Thank you Deborah!
Maria I love the very dark indigo with the lace especially looks very ethereal , deep or cosmic or occult! So in keeping with this time of year as we lean in to embrace the darkness. Can’t wait to see how you put them together!
Oh I was thinking the same about the darkness Peg. And I love your thoughts on the lace. I kept thinking of the darkness as I was rinsing them.