With Blogger down for two days I was able to get a little stitching done. In between popping online to check if we were up and running again, that is! I'm pleased with my progress on Dandy Dreams so far. The colors are just lovely and this is such an enjoyable project to stitch.
Before Blogger went and removed our 5/11 posts (and then reposted them) I had scads of comments on my last post. Poo, they all disappeared. There were many comments complementing my fabric choice. Thank you!
The fabric is 32 count Lugana which I dyed myself. First, I boiled several tea bags in a small pot, letting them steep for a long time to get a rich color. Then I filled the sink with a couple inches of hot water and poured in the steeped tea. I wadded up my fabric and tossed it in. I didn't want a dark color so I only left it for a few minutes. I then drained the sink and washed the fabric with laundry soap and ironed it dry.
After it was dry I decided it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for so I boiled more tea. I think I used four bags in about a cup of water. Then I laid my dried fabric on paper towels on plastic wrap. (My kitchen counter top stains and I didn't want to have to bleach it.) I used a spoon to dribble, drab and drop the tea on. I even flung a bit of tea around to get smaller spots and ended up with tea stains on the counter anyway! I used a hot iron to "set" the tea drops then I washed the fabric again.
I hear a few gasps from those who've heard using tea was a big no-no because it was acidic and would ruin your project. Ummm, yeah, whatever! I've used tea, coffee and fabric dyes for years with nary a problem. Historically, so have many, many needleworkers. Tea is a natural dye, just like using berries, root vegetables or walnuts. So have fun, try it yourself and don't be afraid to experiment!
Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox
Such a beautiful project, and a lovely effect with the tea dye!
ReplyDeleteGreat progress. It looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteDandy Dreams is looking great, it's a lovely design.
ReplyDeleteI love the look you achieved with tea dying your fabric. I might have to give it a go using your instructions, as I do like the mottled look you achieved.
Great progress on your stitching! Enjoyed reading about your dyeing process. I have yet to give that a try. One of these days I'll make that leap!
ReplyDeleteI've used tea also to stain and have never had any problem. I love this design hun; it's on my "wish list". :) Let me know if you want to sell/trade it when your done..:) It looks great!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Shar
Thanks for the how-to. I tried tea dyeing once, and it wasn't a very pretty sight, I must admit!
ReplyDeleteGoodness you're a quick stitcher, it's coming along lovely. I've used tea to age paper to look like parchment but have never used it on fabric, will have to give it a go.
ReplyDeletelily x
It's coming along great! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's looking wonderful! Can you believe how blogger went away like that? And lost all those comments and everything? Geez!
ReplyDeleteLove your latest project, especially that you dyed the fabric yourself. That's on my to-do list someday.
ReplyDeleteVery nice indeed. I have dyed fabric with tea also and had great success.
ReplyDeleteI have this pattern in my to-do pile. Now I have to do it soon! And love your dying process. I have used coffee to dye rick rack. Besides it smells great!
ReplyDeleteA birdie told me your bday is coming soon - is this true?
I did wonder about the fabric and am now happy to know how you acquired it. Thank you for telling us how to achieve it. It is a beautiful project.
ReplyDeleteIts looking great :) I am off to google the completed project and see if I am about to add it to my stash.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips Sharon! I just may have to order some white lugana to try experimenting with different teas! I've got so many kinds of loose teas I wonder what each one would look like!!
ReplyDeletePS I just commented on your other post and can't believe how much you got done on your Dreams. It looks great!
The tea dye looks wonderful!!!! I would have to try it myself~~ Thanks for the tips!!
ReplyDeleteLovely project! I've never strayed from Aida let alone dyed my own fabric... maybe it's time to branch out. I can't wait to see this project's progress!
ReplyDeleteyou are making fantastic progress on it, I just love this pattern and have it in my stash... after seeing yours I just may need to pull mine out and stitch it!
ReplyDeleteI love your fabric too, you did a great job with they dyeing and thanks for the how - to instructions! One day I just maybe brave enough to give it a try!
Great info, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove this design and seen it stitched on so many choices of fabrics and all are beautiful, look forward to your next piccie
xxx
Great progress on Dreams. I haven't tried dying my own fabric yet, but keep thinking I should.
ReplyDeleteI have used a tea dye myself and was very happy with the result but i'm going to try it your way, it looks great.
ReplyDeleteDandy Dreams is coming on great.
Hugs Yvon.
It looks great!!
ReplyDeleteI might have to try that, the tea satins on my work surface would make a pretty conterpoin to the red food colouring ones Naomi put there when she was making a cake :D
ReplyDeleteWow you've got loads done since your last post! It looks gorgeous too.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll have to try your way of tea dying. I love how your fabric came out and I think it might look right for BOAF Sally Spencer.
I am definitely one of the bloggers who mentioned the fabric - It's beautiful - You did a splendid job :)
ReplyDeleteThe pattern is darling and coming along nicely - looking forward to the finish
Loving this. It's going to look so awesome. :D I agree about the tea dye... I've done that numerous times and no stitching has been ruined yet. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think you did a brilliant job Sharon! Love this pattern and the fabric is perfect :o)
ReplyDeleteLooks great Sharon :) I love dying my own fabric although I'm not as adventurous as you when it comes to dabbing, dribbling and flicking :)
ReplyDeleteLovely project, and lovely fabbie - one of these days I'll take the plunge and try to dye some myself!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty stitching :)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty stitching:)
ReplyDeleteLove your progress Sharon and the fabric is truly wonderful. You make it sound so easy but for the life of me I can't dye fabric :) LOL. It always looks awful!
ReplyDeleteGreat progress!
ReplyDeleteDandy Dreams looks great! :)
ReplyDeleteI tried coffee-dying for the first time on the fabric I'm using for Boo Club, and I loved experimenting with it. It's definitely something I'll be doing more of, I want to try tea next!
Love this one! I like it's vintage look and subtle/subdued shadings. Looking forward to your finished piece :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat progress on your new project. Isn't it great when we can't use the computer for a while? Less computering, more stitching, lol.
ReplyDeleteI love the effect of the tea drops on your fabric. Great idea.
I love your new start and I think your dye job has turned out beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI've just purchased some walnut ink to try dying some of my own fabric. It should be interesting especially since I'm not really sure what I'm doing.
Wish me luck!
I'm so impressed you dyed the fabric yourself, it's gorgeous and looks perfect with this design.
ReplyDelete:)
It's looking fantastic
ReplyDeleteCute project and great progress.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of dying your own fabric, have you ever used cranberry or any other berry teas? Yours look great!
ReplyDeleteGrowing lovely, thanks for the advice on dyeing, thats something i haven't tried yet
ReplyDeleteEverything has the potential to ruin a project - handling it, light time. I figure I might as well have fun in the process!
ReplyDeleteNo stitching police found here! :)
Your project is coming along nicely.
ReplyDeleteIt's really beautiful and the fabric is perfect!
ReplyDeletelovely progress..tha fabric is just stunning!
ReplyDelete