I love indigo mudcloth textiles. I wrap Dot in one, I drape my dining table with another, and yet another sits on our couch as a throw blanket. Each is unique and beautiful. They’re super soft, and have such a gorgeous texture and history (more about them here). I found a few pieces for cheap at our local Alameda flea market and thought it would be fun to use one to transform into an American flag for the 4th of July.  We wanted to make something patriotic but more like tie dye, and much more subtle than a traditional American flag. Something you could keep up year round.

Keep reading to see how we made it…

1. First we lay plastic down beneath the fabric. We sectioned off the star portion of the flag and then, using tiny plastic elastic hairbands we made small knots like you would if you were indigo dyeing.

2. Using a foam brush, we applied bleach to the middle of each little knot so when opened up it would create a star.

3. We then brushed bleach along the seam for the stripes. I wanted it to look painterly and not perfect. So it would have more of a tie dye effect.

Then we let it sit for about 20 minutes while the bleach developed. Washed it and threw it in the dryer.

I love how haphazard the stars are, reminding me more of tie dye than deliberate painting.

We hung it on the wall with some nails and might not take it down after the 4th. I love how it turned out!

Photography by Liz Stanley. Assisted by Stephanie Gardner.