coffee dying fabric

[mcmrymoon]

i have some plain fabric i want to dye with coffee - do i need to add vinegar? i'm going to use it to embroider on.

thanks!

[kandkrose]

i'm interested to know this too!

[eepster]

If it is wool or silk or nylon add vinegar.

[kandkrose]

so cotton doesnt need vinegar?

[eepster]

Originally Posted by kandkrose

so cotton doesnt need vinegar?

Unfortunately cotton usually needs stronger mordants than vinegar, like alum. I'm not sure what the right one is for coffee.

[swampwitch]

I've done a lot of coffee and tea dying on cottons. A long dye bath and a strong brew have always worked for me.

[mama_daba]

i think the tannins in the coffee act as mordants for cotton. i know natural dyes with tannins can be used without mordants

[Jade Harvest]

When I dyed some cotton shirts with black walnuts I just had my kids pee in the bucket when they were out playing in the yard for a few days. It worked wonderfully.

[mamarhu]

Ooh! We did that back in the 70's - I had forgotten! Another wasn't-Mom-weird story for the Dumplings!