Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Tea dying >
  • Tea dying

  • Tea dying

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 04-07-2010, 06:52 AM
      #1  
    Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Dec 2009
    Posts: 15
    Default

    I just made a lone star quilt for my grandson in red, white and blue fabrics. I would like to kind of antique it. Can I tea dye it? All of the fabrics were pre washed so I know they don't run. Any suggestions please
    Vi ODEll is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 06:57 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    Ditter43's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2007
    Location: Crystal River Florida
    Posts: 9,785
    Default

    If the fabrics are all cotton, it should take the tea bath well.I think there are instructions somewhere on line for this. I have done it before, but I dyed the fabric before I cut it out.There are products available for tea dying or you can do it from scratch. Let us know how you decide to proceed and pictures please!!

    Ditter
    Ditter43 is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 07:12 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    thimblebug6000's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2007
    Location: British Columbia
    Posts: 8,154
    Default

    Good morning, just at the top of the forum is the search button, if you type in tea dye you'll find some other conversations about this and maybe get some more ideas.
    thimblebug6000 is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 07:15 AM
      #4  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jul 2008
    Location: East Oklahoma - pining for Massachusetts
    Posts: 10,477
    Default

    It might be a good idea to take some of the scraps and do a test run.
    Boston1954 is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 07:45 AM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Aug 2009
    Location: The middle of an IL cornfield
    Posts: 7,014
    Default

    Tea dying is pretty easy, but I agree a test run is a good idea. It's much better to find out you don't like the look on a few scraps than a whole quilt.
    Lisa_wanna_b_quilter is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 08:38 AM
      #6  
    Power Poster
     
    amma's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2007
    Location: Out searching for some sunshine :-)
    Posts: 58,856
    Default

    Be aware, if you have used starch, or anything else on the fabric, the tea dyeing may not come out the way you would like. If you used anything on the quilt, I would wash and rinse it first and then tea dye it :D:D:D
    amma is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 09:22 AM
      #7  
    Pam
    Super Member
     
    Pam's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2010
    Location: Southern Illinois
    Posts: 3,672
    Default

    Someone in my guild did a programon tea dying, and she also did one with coffee. Just thought you would like to know
    Pam is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 12:25 PM
      #8  
    Google Goddess
     
    Join Date: May 2009
    Location: Central Indiana (USA)
    Posts: 30,181
    Default

    let us know how it comes out, I would try it on a piece of fabric first a small swatch
    craftybear is offline  
    Old 04-07-2010, 12:59 PM
      #9  
    Gal
    Super Member
     
    Gal's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: New Zealand in the South Pacific
    Posts: 1,115
    Default

    I like the results from coffee rather than from tea, but I do both, I just save up all my old tea bags keeping them in the freezer, when I have enough I put them in a bucket of hot water, when I have a nice strong brew I put in fabric which has been washed and wet through,(do not put in dry fabric to the dye bath, this will result uneven patches) I give it all a good stir for a while and leave to soak over night, but a few hours is ok to. Rinse with 1/2 cup of white vinegar and a Tbl spoon of baking soda to set the dye, rinse till water runs clear. If a darker shade is required just keep repeating the process. I do this a lot to unify my small florals etc since I mostly use scraps and recycled fabrics this method helps to give a good allover design and is great for knocking back those colors which are too bright. Works best on 100% cotton fabrics and those which have white or pale colored threads, does not work so well on darker solid colours. It is great to experiment so try out on some scraps first!

    Gal
    Gal is offline  
    Old 04-08-2010, 06:33 PM
      #10  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Nov 2007
    Location: SW Iowa
    Posts: 32,855
    Default

    I have never tried coffee, but I'm going to now. I like the look of tea dying. Thanks for the hint.
    littlehud is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    justflyingin
    Main
    10
    10-08-2013 02:21 PM
    JanTx
    Main
    23
    02-20-2012 07:45 AM
    ClydeneC
    Main
    7
    12-19-2011 11:41 PM
    humbird
    Main
    10
    10-23-2010 01:05 AM
    craftybear
    Links and Resources
    0
    06-03-2010 11:35 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter