The easiest way to start dyeing fabric at home is to use an ingredient you probably already own: coffee. You only need a few commonly used tools that you almost certainly already have at home. The most suitable fabrics are those in natural fibers, such as cotton, wool and linen. This is an easy process that you can use to change the color of almost any type of fabric without creating too much clutter in your home.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Dyeing with a Coffee Bath
Step 1. First wash the fabric
Before dyeing, wash and dry it normally to remove dirt and oils that could prevent the dye from penetrating evenly into the fibers.
Often, fabrics are treated with a protective spray before being put on sale, so it is very important to wash them in advance. Usually, the sprays used contain chemicals that in addition to interfering with the way the fibers absorb the dye can seriously irritate the skin
Step 2. Prepare the coffee
The amount of coffee you need to brew depends on the intensity of color you want to give the fabric. The more you use, the darker the fabric will become.
- If you want the fabric to turn a nice deep brown color, use a coffee that has undergone a long roasting or increase the dose. If you prefer a nutty color, use less coffee or choose a variety with a medium or light roast.
- In order not to spend too much time preparing coffee, you can use the instant one or buy it ready-made in the cafeteria. Of course, the latter solution is more expensive.
Step 3. Fill a pot with water
Put it on the stove and heat the water over a high flame.
Choose the pot based on the amount of fabric you want to dye. In general, keep in mind that the pot must be able to hold the fabric immersed in water
Step 4. Pour the coffee into the pot
When the coffee is ready, add it to the pot along with the water.
Step 5. Bring the mixture to a boil
After you have poured all the coffee into the pot, bring the two liquids to a boil. Turn off the stove as soon as the mixture reaches a full boil.
Step 6. Put the fabric in the pot
After turning off the heat and waiting for the liquid to stop boiling, submerge the fabric completely. Move the fabric briefly in the water and coffee to get rid of any air bubbles.
Since the water has just stopped boiling, it's best to mix the cloth with a wooden spoon to avoid burning yourself or ruining other utensils
Step 7. Leave the fabric to soak
The longer the soaking time, the more intense the color will be. You have to wait at least an hour to get a dye that can withstand subsequent washes. You can soak the fabric even longer if you want it to be a darker color.
Step 8. Rinse the fabric
Take it out of the pot and rinse it under cold running water. Keep rinsing until the water that falls into the sink is clean. At that point, you will know that there is no excess dye left.
- After rinsing the fabric thoroughly, you will be able to decipher exactly what color it has become. If you prefer it to be darker, after rinsing it you can soak it in water and coffee again.
- Once you have reached the desired degree of color, prepare a container suitable to contain all the fabric immersed in cold water. At this point you can add a little vinegar to the water and let the fabric soak for 10 minutes to set the dye.
Step 9. Rinse the pot
When you're done dyeing the fabric, rinse the pot right away. The coffee could stain it if you don't empty it and wash it promptly when the dyeing process is complete.
Step 10. Wash and dry the garment gently
Wash it in the washing machine with cold water and a soap and a gentle cycle. Once washed, you can hang it out to dry out of sunlight or you can put it in the dryer at a low temperature.
As this is a dye made with a natural ingredient, the color may fade slightly during subsequent washes
Method 2 of 3: Dry Dyeing
Step 1. Wash the fabric before starting
Before dyeing the fabric, wash it but do not let it dry. The reason you need to wash it is that there may be dirt or oils preventing the color from evenly penetrating the fibers.
- You can wash the garment with the rest of the laundry or individually, as you prefer.
- Follow the instructions on the washing label to avoid damaging the fabric.
Step 2. Prepare the coffee
For dry dyeing you need to use leftover coffee grounds. For convenience, it is best to use a French or American coffee maker.
- You will need enough coffee grounds to fully cover the garment you wish to dye. You will therefore have to prepare many cups of coffee.
- Choose a variety of coffees with a light taste (given by a light roast) if you want to get a nutty color or with a more bitter and intense taste (given by a longer roast) to ensure a darker shade.
- This is a good way to reuse coffee grounds. If you drink coffee regularly, you can set aside the grounds to use in this way.
Step 3. Make a paste with the coffee grounds
When they have cooled, pour them into a large bowl. Add a tablespoon of water for each cup of coffee grounds.
Stir the coffee grounds with a wooden spoon to make sure they absorb the water. The paste may remain slightly coarse so just mix 7-8 times
Step 4. Spread the paste made from coffee grounds on the fabric
Lay the garment out to dry on a waterproof surface. Make sure that the coffee grounds are evenly distributed throughout the fabric and rub them with a wooden spoon (or similar utensil) to make them penetrate deeply into the fibers. If you prefer, you can use your hands.
At this stage, the surrounding surfaces may get dirty so it is best to choose a space that allows you to create a bit of clutter, for example the laundry room. As a precaution, you can spread newspaper on the floor or carpets
Step 5. Dry the fabric
Hang the garment to dry out of direct sunlight. You must wait until it is completely dry; depending on the type of fabric it could take a few hours or even a whole day. Alternatively, you can put the garment to dry in the dryer for 30 minutes at a low temperature.
If you want to let the garment dry outdoors, make sure it is in the shade as the sunlight could cause it to discolour
Step 6. Brush off the coffee grounds
You can remove them from the fabric with a brush made of natural fibers or more simply by shaking the fabric several times. If the garment isn't as dark as you wanted, repeat the process until you get the shade of your choice.
Step 7. If you want, you can press the fabric with an iron
Use the iron to remove creases from the fabric.
The fabric must be perfectly dry to get the best possible result using the iron
Method 3 of 3: Reserve Dye
Step 1. Wash your garment before starting
Before dyeing the fabric, wash it and let it dry as usual. The reason you need to wash it is that there may be dirt or oils preventing the color from evenly penetrating the fibers.
- You can wash the garment with the rest of the laundry or individually, as you prefer.
- Follow the instructions on the washing label to avoid damaging the fabric.
Step 2. Prepare the coffee
The amount of coffee you need to brew depends on the intensity of color you want to give the fabric. The more you use, the darker the fabric will become, but it's not just the quantity that affects the shade, the degree of toasting also counts.
- If you want the fabric to turn a nice deep brown color, use a coffee that has undergone a long roasting or increase the dose. If you prefer a nutty color, use less coffee or choose a variety with a medium or light roast.
- To speed up time, you can use instant coffee or buy it ready-made in the cafeteria.
Step 3. Let the coffee cool
You can put it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes or more simply prepare it a couple of hours in advance and wait for it to cool to room temperature.
Step 4. Pour the coffee into bottles with a measuring spout
They are very useful for pouring the color in one spot without staining the surrounding area.
Dedicate a different bottle to each type of roast (for example one to coffee with a dark roast and another to one with a light roast)
Step 5. Separate the area to be dyed into sections
You can twist the fabric and use rubber bands to separate the sections. By using this method you will know clearly which areas to dye, and you will also prevent the color from expanding beyond its due extent.
- Spread the fabric out completely.
- Grab a piece of fabric in the center of the garment and then start rotating your hand clockwise.
- The fabric will twist around itself. Try to roll it neatly to get a low, wide spiral, similar to a stuffed sweet roll.
- When the garment has taken the shape of a regular spiral, apply the rubber bands around it to divide it into sections, as if you wanted to divide the cake into eight slices.
Step 6. Dye the sections with coffee
Use the bottles with the measuring spout to pour the coffee on the fabric. You can alternate the one with the lighter toast to the darker one to create color shades.
When you are done dyeing one side of the fabric, turn it over and start applying the coffee to the other side
Step 7. Transfer the garment to an airtight container
Based on the size, choose whether it is better to use a bag or a rigid plastic container. Either way, seal it and store it in a warm place for 24 hours.
If there are a lot of items, you can use one of those plastic containers that are used to keep the laundry in the closet in order. You can find them in different sizes, starting with those of a shoebox
Step 8. Rinse the fabric
After allowing the color time to set on the fibers, remove the garment from the container and wash it under cold water until the one that falls in the sink is perfectly clean.
Advice
- Coffee dyeing is best suited to natural fabrics, such as linen or cotton. Synthetic fibers don't absorb color as well.
- These methods are suitable for dyeing light fabrics to achieve a light or medium shade of brown. You can follow the same process using tea for warmer, reddish undertones.
- Test a small piece of the same fabric first. Experiment to make sure you can get the desired effect without risking ruining the garment.
Warnings
- Using the dry dye method you could dirty the surfaces surrounding the work area, so as a precaution it is best to protect them with newspaper.
- Rubbing the coffee grounds against the fabric could damage it, so choose another method if you want to dye a delicate garment.
