Tea Party Diva - Life & Craft

Staining or dyeing fabrics using tea is a great way to give a fresh look to your table linen, quilts or second hand shop finds.

It can also give an antique effect. Dyeing paper with tea requires a slightly different process.

Basic Instructions

Ingredients

• 5-20 Tea Bags (depends on desired result)
• 1 tbspn white vinegar to set the dye
• Large saucepan or heatproof container.
• Your fabric

Preparation

• In a large saucepan, bring water to the boil
• Leave saucepan on the stove, but switch off the heat
• Place tea bags inside a mesh bag or muslin
• Let tea bags steep for 15-20 minutes, depending on the desired color
• Remove tea bags
• Allow tea to cool
• Mix the white vinegar thoroughly into the cooled tea

Experiment with a small piece of a similar fabric to what you want to dye, before you tackle your project. This will give you an idea of what combinations of variables will best achieve your desired result.

1. Use different strengths of tea

2. Leave fabric in for longer or shorter times

3. Experiment with different types of tea e.g. Green Tea, Early Grey Tea, Comfrey Tea and other teas give different tones and shades of color.

4. You can also stain fabric using coffee.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE NOTE

1. Use all the usual safety and health precautions when dealing with hot water, and any substances that may cause any allergic or adverse reactions or rash.

2. There is a danger that the tannic acid in the tea may break down the fabric, causing it to deteriorate over time. You may decide to use a commercial dye when working with precious heirlooms or heirlooms in the making.

Crafts