Antique linen

suem

I love making antique looking designs. Can anyone tell me how  to colour my linen to make it look worn or antique. Thankyou.

atenea

Use tea for dying, the colour is really nice :)

waspjh1984

Tea or coffee.  The chart for Josiah Turners Sampler as directions.   

Full directions with pictures here:  http://newenglandclassicstitch.com/HowtoAntiqueYourProject.aspx

DELETED

Someone once told me to add salt to it to make the colour last longer - I know eventually the tea/coffe fades, but I think it might take a long time to do that.

mathurin

I think that alum salt is the one usually used to make colours fast when dying.

sallyrose

Reply 5# mathurin


    Good to know. Thanks.

suem

Thankyou ladies,
So now I need to go and make a cup of tea!

Pitiknitz

Adding a little bit of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to black tea gives it a different tint than just black tea.  Also applying it with a cotton ball or spray gives it a different look.

suem

Many thanks Pitiknitz. The added spices sound like they would also make it smell lovely. And those particular smells would be so nice for a Christmas ornament.

WiseOwl

I use the tea dye method.. seems to give the right look if you want to get that aged antique look... I only use it on linen fabric..