Indigo Natural Dye
Indigo is one of the oldest dyes known. It became prominent in Europe after Vasco De Gama opened up the trade routes to the East Indies in 1498 but had been known in India long before then. The source of Indigo is the leaves of the indigo plant, indigofera tinctoria, but it also occurs in the South American indigofera suffruticosa, the Japanese indigo polygonum tinctorium and to a lesser degree in Woad - Isatis tinctoria - which has been used in Britain since prehistoric times. In modern times, Indigo is prepared synthetically and rejoices in the CI name Vat Blue 1.1. Scuddlebutt3's indigo is of this type. Indigo is a vat dye. It is suitable for use on wool but is more commonly used on cotton and is best known today as the "blue jeans" dye.
Craft dyers who are new to this substance, please take a look at our textile dyeing methods guide from the dyes section or via the customer services index, which will provide some basic methods. For those who like to really get in touch with the spirit of those dyers long gone, we have also included a more - well - authentically traditional method, based on stale urine. Enjoy!
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Revised: 6th June 2010