Tips for Getting the Darkest Blues

Q: Any tips for getting really dark blues with a natural indigo vat?

A: For a dark color, I dip my piece for at least 3 minutes per dip and THOROUGHLY rinse with cold water in between dips. You can re-dip as soon as you see no more green in the folds of the piece. There is no set time between dips, you actually just need to oxidize your indigo layers, which is indicated by the indigo turning completely blue.

Make sure to avoid hitting the sediment at the bottom of the vat. If you do, rinse and wash the material from your piece before attempting another dip, otherwise all subsequent dips in the vat will merely bond indigo to the sediment, which will eventually wash off, taking all that indigo with it.