![](/henna/icons/shim.gif) | ![](/henna/icons/shim.gif) | ![](/henna/icons/shim.gif) | | I applied more wax resist, including the word “affection” in the corners of the cloth, copying a 14th century Kufic script on a textile fragment. I applied henna very thickly with a spoon, to make the darkest possible stain to contrast "affection", and softer stains made by the indigo wicking. | I applied turmeric, more wax resist, and continued working around the design. | | | I continued working. | | | I kept filling until all the areas were squiggled full. The back of the silk showed that the original henna lines held up with other lines around and on top of them. The indigo lines were green when applied, a similar color to the henna paste, but gradually oxidized to blue. | I let the silk stay on the stretcher over night, drying. The next morning, I took a stiff broom and swept all the dry henna, indigo and turmeric pastes off the silk. I put old towels on the floor and laid the silk paste side down. I ironed directly on the silk, on HIGH. The longer I ironed, the more vibrant the colors became. The henna stain is green until you iron it. Keep ironing until the henna lines are as dark as coffee; then you’ve ironed enough. The longer you iron the silk, the better. Heat sets the dye! The paraffin does not hurt the iron, and soaks into the towels. |