Frequently Asked Questions

Natural fibers like cotton, linen, and silk absorb a tea stain very well. A good ratio when making a tea dye is 6 cups of water to 1 cup of loose tea. Use enough water and a large enough pot to cover the fabric and adjust the recipe accordingly. Measure the tea and place it on a large square of cheesecloth. Tea leaves expand when wet, so wrap the cheesecloth loosely around them and secure with kitchen twine. When the water is boiling, add the tea sack.

To fix the color to the fabric, a mordant is needed. Alum, found at the drugstore, is a very good one. Add 1 tablespoon of alum per recipe to the pot and stir.

Cover the pot, turn off the heat, and let the tea steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Wearing rubber gloves, remove the tea sack, gently squeezing it into the pot.

Before immersion in the dye, wet your fabric thoroughly with water. Place the fabric in the pot and stir occasionally so that the fibers take the color evenly. Check the fabric every 10 to 15 minutes until it reaches the desired shade. Wash the finished fabric in hot, soapy water, rinse; hang or tumble dry.

You can also coffee die natural fabrics. Brew a STRONG pot of coffee to substitute for the tea and follow the above directions.