using tea to dye shirts

luckytoteach · **using tea to dye shirts** 11-13-2009, 07:31 PM

Has anyone dyed t-shirts with tea and/or berries as part of their unit on Native Americans. We are expected to have our students make and wear something to our Thanksgiving feast/lunch. Any hints or advice would be greatly appreciated. TIA

multigrade · **tea and berry dye** 11-14-2009, 05:35 AM

I've done a LITTLE with this, but not related to Native Americans. I've dyed cloth with tea. Crushed blackberries make a great 'ink' to write with using a quill pen and it stains clothes, too!

Both of these will stain/dye a t-shirt. I know that 100% cotton will take the stain better. (A poly-blend didn't take the tea stain very well.)

This site mentions using tea bags for light brown.
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/naturaldyes.html

Jsjones1117 · **I use** 11-14-2009, 06:02 AM

coffee when I do mine. I mean double dark and very strong. Nowhere near where someone would drink it.

luckytoteach · 11-14-2009, 10:28 AM

Thanks for your ideas. I can always count on the people on Proteacher.

fiona1 · **pokeberries** 11-14-2009, 08:54 PM

When I was young(er)! my firends and I would pick pokeberries and make the most beautiful "paint" with them and dye cloth a gorgeous shade of deep vivid pink. Google images has good pictures if you are not familiar with this plant- they are ripe now in New England if they grow in your area. Also, onion skins are great for yellow and something all of the children could bring in as a contribution.