Tea Dyeing?

[Pleater]

You need to be considerate of the fibre your hose are made from, and not use the tea too hot.

I let the tea stand with the leaves or bags in, until it is just warm, then filter it - even it it is in bags - as a stray leaf can make a dark mark on the item.

The things to be dyed need to be able to float around - using a dye bath which is too small can lead to patchy take up of colour.

They should be wet, totally immersed in clean water with a tiny tiny amount of detergent to lower the surface tension, then picked up and put straight into the dyebath, then stirred.

If you are not sure how dark the colour will be, use only a little tea - but measure how much. Then when you have seen the effect you can add more. With the large dye bath you can add extra dye a little at a time, whilst stirring to disperse it.

If the required shade is 'as dark as possible' then things can be left for several hours.

With wool adding just a little alkaline substance to the wetting water will cause the scales on the surface of the wool to lift - or attempt to lift if it has been treated for washabiity, which increases the surface area available for the colour to sit on. Usually the small amount of detergent will do that - which is why woollens should be given a final rinse in water with a little vinegar added, to restore the pH wool likes.

The same brew is good for removing rust - I recommend it when someone finds that they have a knitting machine with rusty needles. It turns the rust soft and blue.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: