Spotted: How to Dye Fabric with Tea

How to Dye Fabric with Tea

Got some plain fabric handy? Check out how to dye fabric with tea for a natural, earthy look.

We love natural fabric dyes around here, so I was intrigued when I ran across this tutorial from the Textile Arts Center on how to dye fabric with tea. The tutorial author uses a really cool, non-toxic resist technique along with the tea-dyeing to create really cool patterns on her fabric. You can do the resistance thing or just straight up tea-dye your fabric.

To tea-dye your fabric, you will need:

  • black tea
  • undyed or light-colored fabric
  • pot with boiling water
  • tongs

If you want to make patterns, you’ll also need:

  • non-toxic white glue and paintbrushes
  • sponge and dish soap

Ready to dye some fabric? Click here for the tutorial!

Written by Becky Striepe

My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”), and I am a crafts and food writer from Atlanta, Georgia with a passion for making our planet a healthier, happier, and more compassionate place to live. My mission is to make vegan food and crafts accessible to everyone!. If you like my work, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and .

Comments (Keep It Civil...)

Crafts for Kids: Upcycling Ideas for Big Kids

Kids Can Upcycle!: 15 Upcycling Projects for Kids

DIY Baby Toy Log that Rattles