Wonky Weaver® Naturally Dried Indigo leaf is chopped leaf from the botanical Indigo ferra tinctorial. The dried leaf is perfect for dyers wanting to explore dyeing with indigo in its rawest, natural form. The indigo leaves are less concentrated than the blue powder extracts so yields colours ranging from pale blues through to richer shades of blue.
 
This particular dye is for advanced indigo users, as the dye will need to be fermented and extracted from the leaf powder before using.
 
Indigo should be used in a dye vat which can be set up using a multitude of recipes depending on dyeing preferences using a range of ingredients. However, we recommend a simple method using soda ash (for pH alkalinity) plus the use of an oxygen reducer such as Thiourea dioxide (also termed Spectralite or THIOX). You can also use Hydro Sodium Dithonate (also termed HYDROS) as the oxygen reducer but you require a greater quantity than THIOX. This oxygen reduction is essential when dyeing with indigo. All of these indigo dye vat ingredients are available in our store and on our own site. Alternatively you can purchase our Indigo dye kit which contains everything you need to get started with dyeing with indigo.
 
Natural plant dyes are also perfect for naturally colouring hand-made soaps & candles.  Infuse the dye powder in oil or wax, before adding to your soap or candle recipe.
 
Weaver® Natural Plant Dyes and Extracts are derived from botanical sources, and are both sustainable and ethically produced. We carefully source our dyes from suppliers we trust to uphold the highest of standards in quality.
 
Using plant dyes is very enjoyable and satisfying but does require some degree of experimentation to get the desired coloration of your fibres, yarns and fabrics. Results also depend on the type, weight and make-up of the fibre, and water quality, temperature and length of time in the dye bath amongst many other factors. The type of mordants, dye assists and modifiers will also affect the resultant colour of your dyed materials.
 
The dried indigo leaf is supplied in 50g resealable pouches which should be sufficient to dye up to 200g -500g of fibre depending on intensity of desired colour.
 
Please store your dyes out of reach of children, out of sunlight and under dry conditions.