Dip Dyed Denim
This time we are trying dip dyed Ikat denim! First we test all the different mill waste cotton qualities in the natural indigo dye vat, dipping up to ten times to record the hues we can achieve. Then we move on to the loom to record the picks per inch of each quality, and to see the shades of the denim.
We use only natural indigo, with plant based reduction agents. We never use virgin cotton, only mill waste, and we never use any toxic chemicals in the dyeing process.
Aviary Denim
Southend-on-Sea, England
Dip dyed denim, Sarah WardHanks of mill waste cotton in white and ecru, washed after being dp dyed in the natural indigo vat
Wrung out, Sarah WardHanks of dip dyed denim
Dip dye on loom, Sarah WardTesting ecru and bleached mill waste cotton to see which dyes better in our natural indigo vat. Ecru gives a much more intense hue - the bleached white gives a flatter, colder blue
Weaving up dip tests, Sarah WardEach dip tests gets woven to compare the colour achieved
Oxidising, Sarah WardHanks of indigo dyed cotton oxidising in the sun
Dip Dyed Hank, Sarah WardA hank of industry waste cotton that has been dip dyed in indigo, ready to be used as a weft!
A group of samples woven using dip dyed industry waste cotton, Sarah Ward
Close up of the dip dyed woven samples dyed with natural indigo, Sarah Ward