Aah! Tips on Dyeing Lace Ivory

Tips on Dyeing Lace Ivory

"Tea" dyeing is the most common method used today for small quantities. Yes! Submerging that beautiful lace in tea! This is the method most recommended by leading lace manufacturers. It is easy, quick and permanent.

This is what you will need:-

	1 Lipton Tea Bags for each 3 quarts of water
	A pinch of yellow or golden yellow dye
	A pan that can hold at least 4 quarts
	3 quarts of water

Follow this recipe to make the dye:-

	Always ensure all equipment and surfaces are spotlessly clean!
	Boil approx 3 quarts of water in the pan
	Add 1 Lipton tea bag
	Boil for a further 5 minutes and remove from the heat
	Add a pinch of yellow or golden yellow dye
	Stir to until fully dissolve

TEST IT - TEST IT - ALWAYS TEST IT !!!

Always, always test the colour of the dye with a small sample of the actual lace to be dyed as follows:-

Wet the lace sample thoroughly in warm water

Shake away the excess water

Place in the nearly created dye solution

Stir for 30 seconds, ensuring all surfaces are covered

Remove the lace sample and rinse under warm water

Quickly dry the sample with a hair drier

Check the colouration achieved

	If the colour is too light - try a little longer time in the dye solution keeping a record of the time you used. If after 2 minutes the lace colour is still too light, used a second tea bag in the solution.
	If the sample is too dark - use a little more water, add one cup of water at a time.

Remember, always try and keep the lace colour on the light side
darker colours are more difficult to match / blend.

Once you are happy with the lace sample colour shade:-

	Wet your lace material thoroughly in warm water
	Gently squeeze out excess water
	Place in the dye solution
	Stir for the time you used on the lace sample, ensuring all surfaces are covered
	Remove the lace and rinse well in warm water
	Gently squeeze out the excess water
	Place on a flat, clean, dry towel and allow to air dry
	Once dry press thoroughly with a good iron

Always remember - different fibres take dye differently

A corded lace (re-embroidered / alencon) will very probably turn out different to a guipure / venise lace.

The material on this site is freely available for your own personal use while surfing our site, it may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted or otherwise used without the prior written permission of Elizabeth Cooke - Nottingham Lace.

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www.newmex.co.uk

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