Setting Tea and/or Coffee Dye
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 611
I've tea-dyed fabric without adding anything and it doesn't rinse away - in my experience it does fade a bit but only in the first wash. That's why accidental tea stains are such a nuisance: they just won't come out with normal washing.
#12
Google Goddess
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Central Indiana (USA)
Posts: 30,181
Thank you for this tip
Originally Posted by Gal
I use this method for smaller amounts, have not tried it in big yardages.
For a bucket size, I would use 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/4 cup of salt. About 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Let them have a good soak, even over night, I have left mine for, but not necessary. There is a certain amount of washing out of the colour, I have found that coffee is the best for staining fabrics to give them that old aged look.
Gal
For a bucket size, I would use 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/4 cup of salt. About 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Let them have a good soak, even over night, I have left mine for, but not necessary. There is a certain amount of washing out of the colour, I have found that coffee is the best for staining fabrics to give them that old aged look.
Gal
#13
To make certain that the tea dye doesn't wash out irregularly, heat set it. Use a hot dry iron. It takes about 2-3 minutes to heat set an area about 20 " by 30". I always have used PFD fabric and don't have any experience with taking out sizing in fabric. Good luck.
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
PFD fabrics are "prepared for dyeing" so 1/2 the work is done for you. what ever method you decide to use just remember heat setting works wonders. also, curing time...i always set my freshly dyed fabric aside for at least 24 hours before rinsing then again before heat setting.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,325
It does not make sense to me, but if I drip coffee all over my shirt, I have one heck of a time getting it to come out and that is before it gets to the washer, never mind if I accidentally miss it. Wonder why when you want it to set it has such a tough time doing it. I hope it works out well for you.
#18
Judy, you are so right! However the reason I fuss so much is that I like to make old style looking quilts that have that antique look about them (or I sprinkle tea leaves over for a speckled/aged look) and I often 'overdye' new and used fabrics, when I have gotten a certain shade of tea/coffee to match in with other fabrics I do not over time, want them to wash out.
Gal
Gal
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