Replies

1. 
   starzoe | Jan 12, 2009 01:06am | #1

   I have dyed ordinary lace in small quantities with tea, it works very well, strong hot tea, plunge lace, check occasionally to see if it has gone the shade you want. Remember that fabric looks darker when wet.I don't know if you are dyeing lace in strips or lace fabric. I would think the stretch (lycra?) will not take the dye consistently if at all. If your lace is polyester, it will not dye successfully. Cotton will take dye easily.

1. 
   organdy | Jan 12, 2009 01:16am | #2

   starzoe -- thanks for the respond -- i don't know the fiber content, but am concerned the heat of the tea mixture will doom the stretch of the lace fabric --

1. 
   starzoe | Jan 12, 2009 01:25am | #3

   The tea doesn't have to be very hot, medium-warm will do. Make the tea good and strong, let it cool and try a sample. Are you dyeing yardage?

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   organdy | Jan 21, 2009 03:13am | #4

   good news starzoe!! your method worked super, i made black tea w/4 tea bags, let it cool a bit, and soaked overnight the lace garment i wanted to tint. it turned out great! the color even in tone, the sparkling quality of the fabric was retained, so even tho i didn't know the fiber content, i took a chance and was very pleased with the outcome! sometimes the most practical approach (cool the tea mixture down) works just fine! thanks for sharing your experience with me. cheers, organdy

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   starzoe | Jan 21, 2009 04:28am | #5

   Great - am so glad it turned out, but them I knew from experience it would! Did I mention to rinse it in vinegar to help keep the colour? Some people use salt in a rinse but salt gives a greyed effect, vinegar keeps the sparkle. Just a gurgle of the vinegar, not a whole lot.