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,

 

[Ben Ford 987]

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,

Never tried tea staining, but I have experience with walnut staining.

For non reenacting
pick up walnuts when they hit the ground in the autumn
get a 5 gallon plastic bucket & fill it about 1/3 full of walnuts
beatup the walnuts with a hammer. take the nuts out or leave them in makes no difference
fill the bucket with enough water to cover the nuts
wait a couple of weeks or more, adding water to keep walnut husks under water
when the husks are good and gooey and water is black
buy a package of white 100 per cent cotton t shirts
wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
take One t shirt, shake it out and submerge it completely
stir it up well with a broom handle or similar
wait 3 to 4 days (or more) occasionally stirring it up to make sure the t shirt gets evenly stained
take the shirt out and make sure it is stained to your liking.
If there any portions needing more stain, back to the bucket
there be some slight mottling
Wash it with soap and garden hose (outside) several times.
Do not machine wash until you have worn and hand wshed it several times
Do not machine wash it with anything except black items

If you wear the t shirt before staining, the stain will not be even no matter how many times
you launder it. especially the armpits.
.
I always wanted to try butternuts, but could never find enough nuts.

 

[7thWisconsin]

How long will your hands be black if the dye touches them?

 

[History36]

As an update, playing a little catch-up, but the process turned out fantastic. I first started out with tea (two separate batches). Since I was leaning towards a slightly darker tone, I then followed up with coffee (also two separate batches).

Nothing was difficult by any means and it 'dyed' thoroughly as if store-bought. Once you get the color you want, simpky use white vinegar to set the color. Attached are pics of shirts (not mine, but mine looks identical - pics to come!