Supply List

Dyeing with Tea and Spices

Marjie McWilliams, Instructor

Please note: Tea is an acid.  This technique is not intended for heirloom items. 

Fabric

At least 1 1/2  yards of 100% cotton unbleached muslin, 36"-45" wide.  Make sure that your fabric is 100% cotton with NO blends, no wrinkle-guard, no permanent press.  Pure cotton is what we need because the addition of that other stuff keeps the tea from staining the fabric.  Just buy the pure, original muslin with the natural color.

WARNING: You may be tempted to use muslin from your stash or something inexpensive in the sale bin at your local fabric store.  Most cotton muslins these days are a blend or have perma-press or wrinkle guard finishes.  These additives will block the bond that the dye makes with the fibers resulting in pale colors or colors that will wash out or fade.

If you would like to buy the same muslin that I use for my customers at www.fabricdesigns.com, go to the Web site and click on supplies.  The order form for the fabric is at the bottom of the page.  You may order 5 or 10 yard pieces.  It will be shipped out to you immediately via Priority Mail.  If outside of the US, contact me about shipping fees.

Many students have enjoyed trying these recipes on silk swatches.  If you would like to try staining silk, the best ones to use are habotai or China silk, and crepe backed silk satin.  Both are available on my web site under the supplies section.

White Vinegar (small bottle - 8 or 16 oz. size)

Alum (Aluminum ammonium sulfate) powder - This can be found at pharmacies, in grocery stores in the canning/pickling sections, or at www.fabricdesigns.com in the supplies section.  This chemical makes beautiful gray and blue colors when used as a mordant instead of vinegar.  Alum is a generic name for several sulfate compounds containing aluminum.  Some tea stain dyers insist that Potassium aluminum sulfate is the best alum for tea dyeing although I have tried both and see very little difference.  The only real difference is the price and the very important fact that Potassium aluminum sulfate is poisonous! Use care when handling and be sure to use designated utensils if you choose to use this kind of alum.

If you are having difficulty locating this item, go to http://shop.mccormick.com/products.cfm . Type in "Alum" in the product search slot and you can order it directly from them.

UK source - www.frankherringandsons.com/?section=products&prod=810 or Artvango.

Australian source - www.pharmacyonline.com.au/david-craig-alum-powder-100g

Allume is the Italian name for alum and alumbre is Spanish.  A student found a little bottle called Alumbre en Polvo (powdered alum) in a pharmacy in a Hispanic neighborhood.

Baking soda -  you will only need a few tablespoons from a small box

Tea

See if there are sampler boxes that have these in the mix if you do not want to buy this many tea bags.

Note: You might like to try the following teas for their pinks, oranges, greens, grays, blues, and smashing yellows.  It takes 4-6 bags for 1/4 yard of fabric for each color.  Again, look for sampler boxes:

Spices, Flowers, Skins

These household spices dye cotton very well using the techniques taught in class.  All are optional.  Some may not be available, so chose what is easy to get and easy on the finances.  We use from 1 teaspoon to 1 Tablespoon of each unless another quantity is specified.

  • Saffron (Very expensive! Other spices work as well so you can use something else)
  • Turmeric
  • Dill
  • Cayenne
  • Chili powder
  • Mustard powder
  • Curry powder
  • 12 Hibiscus flowers - Mexican food stores as well as health food stores. Use fresh or dried.
  • Frozen or canned blueberries-1/4 cup minimum
  • Red and yellow onion skins -
    1-3 cups of the papery outer skins
  • Red Cabbage - 4 cups chopped
  • Cream of tartar

Other Stuff

  • access to a stove or microwave
  • access to water and sink
  • 6 ceramic or glass mugs
  • 6 saucepans (if using stove exclusively)
  • old towels
  • newspaper
  • tea kettle or large saucepan
  • Sharpie pen for marking samples
  • timer
  • iron and ironing board 
  • dye journaling book or paper and pencil
  • 3 or 4 medium sized plastic tubs or buckets for staining larger pieces of fabric
  • optional: 16"x16" or equivalent pillow form
  • coffee crystals or brewed coffee.
  • Optional fun stuff:
    • Crystal Light Tangerine/Strawberry or Raspberry - 1 tub
    • any color Kool-Aid
    • espresso powder or brewed espresso.
    • cranberry, pomegranate, blueberry, purple grape juice
    • red wine

Optional - If you feel ambitious; consider using 100% silk or cotton shirts that need new life.  Thrift stores can be your best friend for more fabric or accessories to stain.

You can choose to make any of these projects for our last lesson:

  • pillows
  • stained cotton or silk ribbon
  • collars
  • scrunchies
  • table cloths
  • napkins and placemats
  • fake pearls
  • dish towels
  • hand towels
  • lace
  • wood
  • wool
  • needlepoint threads
  • and whatever else you can think of.  The sky's the limit!

Important:  Whatever you choose to dye must be 100% natural.  NO synthetic blends.  NO permanent press or wrinkle guard additions allowed!  Check the stitching on your project.  What kind of thread is used, cotton or silk?  (If you cannot tell, just remember that the thread will not take the stain if it is a polyester blend.  If you do not mind the stitching standing out in white, go ahead.)  Embellishments: cotton, silk, wool?  Natural fibers are the key to success!

OUTLINE

Lesson One

Lesson Two

Lesson Three