Tea-Staining Shirt:

[History36]

Hi,

Off question, but just curious if anyone has ever tea-stained a cotton muslin shirt, by chance? If so, I'm curious if either the bleached or unbleached version would be best to give a more battle-used / lived-in campaigner impression.

Thank you for your time and any photos.
V/R,

 

[Mississippian1861]

Just wear it naturally. If you must, wear it while out doing yard work or something of that nature.

 

[Dan Kohli]

The stains should be ok. But don't be afraid to wash the shirt, something I heard from a prop maker (Adam Savage, if I remember correctly.). The best way to wether stuff is to get it dirty and then attempt to clean it up. In the diary that I'm reading, something like the paraphrase the guy for some days; "Washed my shirt and drawers, nothing of note happened to-day." Happened was written down often enough.

 

[captaindrew]

There's this idea the guys never received new clothing, they did somewhat regularly. Even the rebs. Nobody at an event will tell you you're not dirty enough. Wear it, it will weather quickly and naturally and look the part way more than trying to artificially soiling things. As already said, if you must, wear it some outside doing chores to get the new off it before you wear it to an event.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

There's this idea the guys never received new clothing, they did somewhat regularly. Even the rebs. Nobody at an event will tell you you're not dirty enough. Wear it, it will weather quickly and naturally and look the part way more than trying to artificially soiling things. As already said, if you must, wear it some outside doing chores to get the new off it before you wear it to an event.

This.

Every person intending to do living history on the military side would be very well served to take a trip to their closest archives and look at some actual clothing accounts for regiments, preferably the one you're intending to portray. While supplies didn't always make it to their destination, the intention was to replace articles of clothing about every three months or so.

 

[History36]

Agreed, and all good points. Trouble is - I'll need this look sooner vs. later. I could mow all the grass in my neighborhood while wearing it, but it may not give me the look I'm going for in a pinch (sample pic attached). Tea-staining only takes anywhere from 30-minutes to overnight.

For a $30 shirt, I may try it & see what happens. Anyhow, I'll try to wear it around some & give it an honest chance to weather naturally....

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

Agreed, and all good points. Trouble is - I'll need this look sooner vs. later. I could mow all the grass in my neighborhood while wearing it, but it may not give me the look I'm going for in a pinch (sample pic attached). Tea-staining only takes anywhere from 30-minutes to overnight.

For a $30 shirt, I may try it & see what happens. The worst that could happen is that it'll look like I relieved myself on the shirt, . Anyhow, I'll try to wear it around some & give it an honest chance to weather naturally....

Thank you again,

View attachment 582514

So are you saying you would like the shirt stained so it can look like the shirts in the photo do? What is the purpose, display or wearing, just out of curiosity? Because keep in mind those photos represent shirts that have aged 160 years.

Looking at them, it looks like the only real wear from actual use is on the bottom one, in the usual places you'd expect, the placket, cuffs, pocket, and waist. I would guess that when they were taken as a souvenir or whatever the provenance, they looked much closer to a natural white, and the sweat stains were probably barely noticeable. Time is a you know what.

 

[captaindrew]

Yeah the shirt didn't look 160 to 165 years old when it was worn.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Maybe trying to make a tea-shirt? Sorry I could not resist...

 

[History36]

The goal is simply to transition a lighter colored shirt to a darker colored shirt as part of a prop (since it's been challenging to find what I'm looking for made elsewhere). That's it. Also too, the premise of the inquiry was: 1.) If anyone has done it previously, 2.) And, if so, how it turned out.

I'm perfectly aware of all those other points, thank you. Since I seem to be a lone 'pioneer' on the brink of groundbreaking revolutionary thought in this particular realm, I'll give it a shot & post for those who may be interested.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

The goal is simply to darken a lighter colored shirt to a darker colored shirt as part of a prop (since it's been challenging to find what I'm looking for made elsewhere). That's it. Also too, the premise of the inquiry was: 1.) If anyone has done it previously, 2.) And, if so, how it turned out.

I'm perfectly aware of all those other points, thank you. Since I seem to be a lone 'pioneer' on the brink of groundbreaking revolutionary thought in this particular realm, I'll give it a shot & post for those who may be interested.

Well if that is the simple goal, I would try Rit. They produce a tried and tested product.

If you're trying to make it look like something that existed in the 1800s, there is a reason people who know how things were done ask "why" you're doing it.

I've never heard of anyone trying to stain a shirt with tea, other than to give it a weathered look for cheap in a short amount of time, which always ends up looking decidedly fake, IMO. There were plenty of other natural dyes in common use back then.

 

[History36]

Yes, the RIT is a good idea, thank you. I'll look into it closer. My only flag in this part of the early stage of researching is that it may be 'too perfect' in its coverage as I'm leaning towards something imperfect.

As for tea-staining, there are actually a lot of good examples of flags that were treated, which gave the idea as a possible option initially. Thank you again for the input,

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

Glad I could be of service, I guess? If you're attempting to accurately portray something from the 19th century, I would strongly suggest to follow a different track than you are suggesting attempting. If you're just trying to make a fabric darker for another reason, yeah. Use Rit.

But please, please don't attempt to tell people that what you are wearing or displaying looks (or smells) anything like what soldiers would have worn in the Civil War.

It doesn't.

 

[captaindrew]

Was is this all for? You say a prop? Are you displaying something? Impression for an event? Making a movie/video? Buying a good quality used shirt might be a better option? If you really want something authentic it's also going to cost more than 30$. I honestly think you may have bigger issues than if it looks dirty or not. A 30$ sutler row shirt isn't close to what an issue shirt really looks like. Is this a CS or US impression, from the original picture you posted I take it it's a CS impression.

 

[captaindrew]

I think we've been thinking this the wrong way, I'm going to take a stab at it and tell me if I'm wrong. You bought a sutler row shirt made of modern bleached white cotton. It's not that it's not dirty but the wrong color, you're trying to make it resemble the right color, am I right? Well you can try and if you're happy with it that's up to you. But those shirts are far from authentic, wrong material, wrong construction, and most likely the wrong buttons. If you're really serious about wanting something authentic I'd get the right thing. It's going to cost more and if on a budget that's very understandable. There's budget minded options. You can find used ones, if you have any sewing talent you can get kits.

 

[rebracer]

All good responses here as for the basic question the best actual dye is Rit, but of all things I was considering using tea to stain some cotten webbing myself for a current project, it can be done.

As for the aging I cant stress enough that shirts were probably the most frequently issued clothing item and that a man would relish a new shirt proudly. Being dirty and worn was not a preference by most and soldiers did what they could to protect and preserve their new garments. I understand you are going for a specific look/color and thats fine, I am just stating as a general comment dirty tattered clothing is overdone, while well broken in but overall clean clothing may be more accurate.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

I think we've been thinking this the wrong way, I'm going to take a stab at it and tell me if I'm wrong. You bought a sutler row shirt made of modern bleached white cotton. It's not that it's not dirty but the wrong color, you're trying to make it resemble the right color, am I right? Well you can try and if you're happy with it that's up to you. But those shirts are far from authentic, wrong material, wrong construction, and most likely the wrong buttons. If you're really serious about wanting something authentic I'd get the right thing. It's going to cost more and if on a budget that's very understandable. There's budget minded options. You can find used ones, if you have any sewing talent you can get kits.

It could be that. But based on OPs previous threads, it looks like he's into purchasing gear and distressing it to make it look original.

I honestly can only think of one reason anyone would want to do such a thing.

 

[James Brenner]

Will non-cotton thread on the seams and buttonholes accept dye, assuming the shirt was made with modern materials?

 

[captaindrew]

Just for poops and giggles I did a side by side with a lesser quality and a high quality reproduction shirt. Once you know and see the difference you can't unsee it.. The lesser in these photos did come in an off white color so at least color wise they aren't far off but the proper material has a completely different feel you can't demonstrate with photos. The high quality shirt is completely hand sewn with proper period correct bone buttons. Where it really stands out are the button holes, and this goes with any period garment. There were some machine made garments at the time but they couldn't do button holes, any good quality reproduction of any garment should have hand sewn button holes. That's another thing that once you know what to look for you can't unsee the wrong thing.