This week and next is a two-part project. This week I am teaching you how to make the “tea-stained” fabric that you will need for next week’s Prim Christmas Stitcheries. This is one of my favorite craft projects to do. It’s easy, smells wonderful for years, and looks beautiful.
What You Will Need:
- muslin fabric (I dye 1 yard at a time)
- cheap instant coffee
- cheap imitation vanilla extract
- cinnamon
- large pot
- large cookie sheet
Directions:
- Fill a large pot with water (approx. 5 cups) and heat on the stove to boiling.
- Remove from heat and add 1/3 c. vanilla extract, 2 cups of instant coffee, and 1/4 c. cinnamon to the water.
- Put the fabric in the pot and let sit for an hour.
- If you want a “grubbier” textured fabric, you can rub cinnamon directly into the fabric as well, after you take it out of the pot.
- Gently wring out, then hang to dry, or place fabric on a large cookie sheet and bake on low heat (200 degrees F) for a few minutes. You will need to stand by and watch the fabric so it doesn’t burn. This is my preferred method, and it makes for a slightly stiffer fabric as well.
Tips:
- You can make more stained fabric with the remaining mixture, or put it in a container and refrigerate to reuse later.
- This fabric is wonderful for all sorts of craft projects, especially for those like me who love primitive country decor.
- I buy my coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla at dollar stores. No need to spend money on good ingredients!
- I never pay full price for fabric! The popular craft stores have apps with 40% off coupons!
- I also dye embroidery floss to give it a muted or aged look, and just put it on a plate to dry. Works well for lace, too!
- Use for craft fabric only, and not for garments, as it will at least partly wash out.
- I once dyed a shower curtain in the bathtub using the mixture, leaving it in for a few hours, and it came out beautifully. I just hung it to dry! When it came time to wash it, I washed it in COLD water, and it preserved some (but not all) color.
This opens up a whole new world of crafting. Have fun with it! The possibilities are endless!
Love & Blessings,
Shandy
Be sure to visit Shandy’s personal blog Aprons ‘n Pearls for crafts, recipes, homekeeping tips & more!
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About Shandy Showers
This is a great idea for a Christmas gift. How neat it this!
Thanks, Tina!
we do LOVE our primitive decor, don't we? i love that you mentioned rubbing the cinnamon in for a grubbier look…i have seen someone take the cinnamon sticks and rol them around the fabric. just beautiful! looking forward to next week, shandy. xo
Thanks, Coleen! Yes, prim makes my heart happy! And the extra touch of rubbing the ground cinnamon into the fabric is a really nice touch for certain projects 🙂 You can also rub the ground coffee into the fabric! I made several yards of this about 5 years ago, and it still smells lovely!
good to know! thanks, shandy! <3