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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Dyeing with tea  |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 12 2009 : 05:51:38 AM
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Has anyone here dyed fabric with tea? I'm thinking of dyeing my white lacy kitchen curtains with tea, but want to know, does it stay permanent?
I've never done this before, so would appreciate any tips you can offer. Thanks!
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2009 : 07:00:01 AM
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| Great question, Lori! I will be interested in seeing the expert response you get....I am sewing and stuffing hearts (those cute ones you see hanging on armoire door handles....) to sell. Making them out of vintage cotton/linen fabric I found in France, and have dyed some string and lace that I am using to embellish them. These hearts certainly won't head to the washing machine, but I will be happy to know whether the tea dye I did on the lace and string is permanent. Thanks for posting the question! Hugs, Nance |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2009 : 07:37:37 AM
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In years past I've tea-dyed a lot of muslin for dolls and prim crafts and it worked great. I always used 100% cotton fabric. That said, I always made things that didn't get much washing so I can't really say how color-fast it would have been with machine washing. I know you won't wash curtains as often as clothing though. I set my wool dyed products with white vinegar and that always does the trick. Maybe that would work?
If your curtains are lacy I would imagine they may not be 100% cotton. I have no idea how a blended fabric will take tea-dyeing.
No help but some past experience at least.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
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Sitnalta
True Blue Farmgirl
4208 Posts
Jessica
NJ
USA
4208 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2009 : 07:47:02 AM
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Lori,
If your material is 100% cotton, it might not take an even stain. Over time, the tea will wash out little by little but never completely and not noticeably each time you wash it. I know that when I dye the synthetics, that they come out more of a light tan almost cream color. The cotton usually dyes really dark, but it all depends on how long you leave it in there too.
I would love to see the results if you decide to do your curtains. I have never attempted to stain something quite that big. I know Nancy Jo does a lot of the tea staining so she'd be a good expert to tell you how it would do.:)
Hugs
Jessie
Farmgirl Sister #235
"Every man's life is a fairy-tale written by God's fingers."--Hans Christian Anderson
Stop by my blog for a visit www.messiejessie2.blogspot.com |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2009 : 09:02:52 AM
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I believe these curtains are polyester. I was just surfing around the Internet, about this process, and several sites are saying that synthetic fabrics will not take the dye.
That's too bad, if true. I could experiment on something else synthetic first, to see what happens.
I'll keep you posted, and thanks for the feedback!
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
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Sitnalta
True Blue Farmgirl
4208 Posts
Jessica
NJ
USA
4208 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2009 : 09:12:48 AM
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Lori,
The polyester will take a stain, it just wont be as dark as it would be on cotton. Testing something else of the stuff type of material is a great idea!! :)
hugs
Jessie
Farmgirl Sister #235
"Every man's life is a fairy-tale written by God's fingers."--Hans Christian Anderson
Stop by my blog for a visit www.messiejessie2.blogspot.com |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 06:54:58 AM
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Well, I'm tea staining an apron I made right now. I THINK (I'm not good at telling what fabric is made of) that it's cotton. It's been soaking for about 20 minutes, and I see a little difference at this point. I'll probably let it sit until supper, stirring every once in awhile.
I've never tea stained anything before, so we'll see how it goes!
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
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classygram
True Blue Farmgirl
1812 Posts
Brenda
Pleasant Hill
Mo.
USA
1812 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 07:12:16 AM
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I've never tea stained before, but love the look. What is the measurements- water and tea? Is useing more tea the trick to a darker stain? Really interested in this! And Lori, would love to see you curtains if you do dye them.
Blessings Brenda |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 08:20:18 AM
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I have tea dyed before, some cotton mostly. The ones I did turned out a bit reddish (depends on the tea, I used Rooibos - a reddish tea)And yes, using more tea will make it darker IMO. You can also do a coffee stain, same principle but am not too sure though! Don't take my word on it 
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 10:55:38 AM
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If I am dying anything poly with tea or coffee - I mordant with alum first. this helps the dye "take" better and stay more colorfast. You need to be aware of the tea you are using just like Marian said. Some teas (lipton for sure) come out rather orange. Coffee makes a good dye and it is a bit more washfast than the tea and isn't as orange a cast. If I want my lace to have a yellowish cast, I add some chamomile tea to my tea bath and that helps make the color a bit more yellow. If dying cotton lace, don't iron it dry or it may speckle. Stretch lace goods out flat on an old towel and pin into shape and let dry.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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classygram
True Blue Farmgirl
1812 Posts
Brenda
Pleasant Hill
Mo.
USA
1812 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 2:08:07 PM
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Thanks Marian and Sheri for the info. I'm going to try this out. Let you know what happens.
Blessings, Brenda |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 2:23:42 PM
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If you are tea dying and want a darker browner color use English Tea. It is a stronger black tea leaf and your color will be richer. (If you are looking for brown). Lipton makes a great one called Yellow Label tea or you can get PG tips or Tetley. But make sure the Tetley is English Tetley and not American. You can use English Breakfast by Bigalow but you will need more than one tea bag. The color lasts but as stated before it will fade a "little" bit with washing. They use different species of leaves for English Tea than they do for American - it is much stronger.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
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chaddsgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
843 Posts
Sarah
Farmgirl Sisterhood #639
MO
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 09:45:11 AM
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Oh I'm so glad to find this!!! I'm wanting to do some tea stained tea-towels for my mom. I plan to embroider on them as well. So should I embroider them first then tea-stain or vice versa?
A person is a success if they get up in the morning and get to bed at night and in between does what they want to do. Bob Dylan
Deeperrootsfarm.etsy.com |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 11:23:57 AM
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Oh heavens. I used Luzette (I think that's the name) tea....my apron came out the weirdest color-almost a light reddish lavender! I'm so dissapointed. I really wanted a beije color.
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
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AuntPammy
True Blue Farmgirl
488 Posts
Pamila
williamstown
wv
USA
488 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 11:34:15 AM
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I don't want to burst anyone's bubble but do be careful what you tea stain. If it is something precious to you-don't tea stain it, as the tea will break down the material quicker than a jack rabbit on a date! I tea stain alot of muslin projects but I am in more of a primitive state of mind these days and don't care if a few holes appear. I totally agree with the english teas giving you a browner stain.
"God made rainy days so gardeners could get their housework done!" unknown
www.auntpsalmostheaven.blogspot.com |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Dyeing with tea |
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Dyeing with tea
