Indigo Series Part 2, Indigo Pigment Aqueous Extraction

Welcome to Part 2 of my series on growing/harvesting/dyeing with indigo ... this addition to the series features the magical process of extracting dye from my harvest of Japanese Indigo leaves (persicaria tinctoria). This is the aqueous extraction method for obtaining indigo dye. There are lots of ways to get the pigment from the leaves, but this one is pretty fast and reliable. My take on this process is adapted from the method used by my friend and teacher, Donna Hardy in her video, • Ossabaw Island Indigo . She's using a different variety of indigo, but the process is the same.
You can watch the video of my indigo harvest here: • Indigo Series Part 1, ...
For larger quantities, some people will use a paddle mixer to aerate the liquid. In other cultures, there are myriad ways of aerating the liquid, think of groups of men in a large vat pumping their legs back and forth for the whole process ... exhausting!
If you're REALLY interested in this process, I highly recommend the FaceBook group Indigo Pigment Extraction Methods. It's an exceptional group of passionate indigo folks and a super resource for learning more about growing, harvesting and extracting pigment from indigo.
I never cease to be amazed at the transformation from fermented leaves to this extraordinary blue pigment. Of course, this is just the beginning and there will be lots more to come ... so stay tuned!
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Music: Acoustic Guitar 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/ Support by RFM - NCM: • Video
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#tendingahandmadelife #indigopigmentextraction2021 #naturaldyes

[@reneelagace5049]

HI. Thanks for this lovely video. I am wondering how much lyme to put in. I noticed you used a measuring spoon but kind of eye balled it. Is there an approximate amount that you would reccomend?

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Greetings Renee, apologies for just now seeing this ... I am at a place where I can 'eye ball it' ... a telltale sign is if the lime soaks in immediately when you spoon it into the vat. If it sucks it right in, it needs the lime.