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Dont know if this is right location for this but I am looking for a recipe for antique staining of fabric. It calls for instant coffee, water and white glue - dont know what proportions...this has been a great forum in the past and hopefully will also be helpful now. Thanks for any help you can send my way.

I don't know about the white glue..never used that.I have used tea and water,and just tried samples until I achieved the look I wanted. I prefer over-dyeing my fabric instead as it is more permanent that tea or coffee..I use Rite Dye in the shade called Tan and just follow the directions on the box except I don't use all the dye powder,again I do samples until I get the shade I want,I just try to get an antique,aged look not the full tan....I use more water than dye.

May: Do you mix it up in a bowl or use your washing machine?

The Rit dye website has a color guide that gives you formulas for combining dyes for different shades.

http://www.ritdye.com/colorit_color_formula_guide

If you click on a color in the strip at the bottom, you see a lot of different shades in that color family. Click on a shade to see the recipe for mixing.
Instructions for special techniques, like tie-dyeing or spot-dyeing, are also on the site.

quote:

Originally posted by nancyc20:
May: Do you mix it up in a bowl or use your washing machine?

I just use the kitchen sink,a bucket or the machine...depends on how much fabric I'm over dyeing.

why don't you just throw a cup of coffee at it?

I have used two different techniques on fabric and paper.

The first is to dampen the surface. With fabric I put it in the spin dry cycle of the washer. Spread it out on a flat surface. Wrinkles are okay they will add to the finished look. Next scatter, shake, toss the instant coffee or tea on the damp fabric. When it is one or two shades darker then desired effects, shake the granuals off the fabric. Rinse in cold water in the washer adding 2 cups of vinegar.

The other is to scatter, shake or toss the coffee or tea on to spread out dry fabric. Then using a spray bottle of water dampen the areas you want stained.

You can use salt sprinkled on the fabric to add texture and a different effect.

There are several other things you can do to add interest to different areas of the cloth or paper. Sit a coffee cup in a saucer with some coffee or tea. Lift it and let drip dry. Then while still wet sit it on the fabric for a few minutes. You can also sponge areas with coffee or tea. Let you imagination go and it gets to be a lot of fun.

You can also use fabric dye in a spray bottle. Or dampen the fabric, spread it out and using a paint brush, randomly paint the dye across the fabric. Or, shake the paint brush over the fabric. Follow manufacturers directions to set the dye.

You will get different effects with the spray bottle depending on if you lay the fabric flat or hang it outside on a line.

Whatever you do, just shake the fabric to remove the granuals of coffee tea or salt then rinse in cold water with 2 cups of vinegar and or salt. Then dry in in the dryer. To really set the staining or dye iron with as hot an iron as the fabric or paper will tolerate.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: I M Joyce,