The center of this section is a piece of rust dyed cotton that I overdyed with indigo. Below that is a piece of shibori folded cotton dipped in a different indigo vat. The rust dyed piece was dyed in the iron vat and the folded piece was done in a workshop using a pre-reduced indigo and a fructose vat. I wasn't very happy with the pre-reduced indigo. The color seemed a bit flat and despite 12 dips never got that rich deep indigo that I can get with just 5 or 6 dips in the iron vat. I think the pre-reduced indigo is the issue. I feel like I get about the same results with the iron vat as from the fructose vat. I prefer the iron vat because it's easier to maintain.
Stitch a Day 2017, Day 48
I just got a small bit done today, working in the same area as yesterday.
Stitch a Day 2017, Day 45
I found a nice bit of an indigo dyed block print twill from India that was the perfect weight to cover the pocket. It's sturdy enough that it will bear up to repeated rubbings. I think I'll add some more stitched in the other direction.
Stitch a Day 2017, Day 44
I just got off a few stitches today.
Stitch a Day 2017, Day 43
I finished a bit more work on the same area as yesterday so took a photo from a different angle. I do love that little rust-dyed triangle.
Stitch a Day 2017, Day 42
I'm finding some little spots to add variations in scale. The small triangular piece of cotton is a leftover scrap from a piece my daughter did years ago in the Pre-College Summer Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She used steel wool to rust dye cotton which I dumped into the indigo vat. There are little pieces of her all over the jacket. It will be lovely to brush up against them and think of her as I do. And knowing her, I expect she'll be wearing it once it's finished.
Stitch a Day 2017, Day 41
Needing a bit more color I found some dyed bits left over from a project of my daughter and some hand-loomed Indian cotton.
Stitch a Day 2017, Day 40
I found a stash of Japanese prints I'd lost track of and found they work well. Once again I'm struck by the different cultural applications of indigo. So far on this piece I've got Japan, India, Africa and the Foothills of L.A.