Indigo Pot Preparation

Notes for preparing the indigo pot at Anne’s

dipping a yarn skein into an indigo dye bath

Indigo Pot Preparation:

  • Add lye in 1 teaspoon increments until the ph is 10.
  • Add the Ryte dye remover.  It needs to be in the pot 1 hour before you start dying.
  • Plug in and put the heater into the dye pot until it is 120 F to 130 F.  Do not heat the pot over 135 F.

Doing your dying:

  • 1 minute dips are good for light layering.  It may take 4 to 8 layers to get dark blue.
  • 2 minute dips are good for medium layering.  It may take 3 to 6 layers to get a dark blue.
  • 4 minute dips are good for dark layering.  It may take 2 or 3 layers to get a dark blue.

After you’re done:

  • If needed, add 1 teaspoon indigo to a ¼ cup alcohol.  Once the indigo is mixed in well, add it to the dye pot.
  • When you get home, you can balance the PH in your fiber by soaking it in water with a few glugs of vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes.