I stitched a cute little pattern from Chestnut Junction and decided to coffee stain the fabric since I couldn't find my natural muslin fabric when I got the itch to stitch. Not having the patience, I stitched first. I guess this would normally be okay, but I used dark red wool and, well, you can see where this is going. I had good success with a scrap piece of fabric to test this method (though it is a simple technique, I had never done it before) and went ahead with the stitched piece. A few minutes in the oven and the red wool bled a bit. You can see on the second picture where the fabric is a bit pink. I had intentions on putting this on my website for sale, but it looks like this one belongs to me! : ) Lesson learned: Stain first, then stitch, especially when using red wool.
I know this piece doesn't look coffee-stained, but it indeed is. I used white cotton so it just stained it a more "natural" color. The really good staining was on the edges, so that got cut off. I had much better luck with the sample piece when doing the staining, so that's another reason to do the coffee staining first.
The back is a red and off-white leaf pattern on cotton. I do plan on making a new one for sale in the next few days, using the piece of fabric I first coffee-stained. : )
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15 comments:
Very pretty, I did this also one time, my was a spring time piece and eveything ended up pretty much one color.
Very cute!!!
I love it...very sweet and prim.
patti
I do like it anyway so sweet.
cathy
Hi Michelle, thanks for your comment on my blog and also for becoming a follower. I missed coming to visit you after you joined, but now I am a follower.8-)
I love the little pillow!! You did a great job.
Blessings,
Lorna
I love it anyway Michelle! I know the drill well, I have ruined several projects over the years by trying to coffee stain after.
I have added you to my followers list as well, thanks for visiting me.
Trudy
Smile the best part of makin a mistake is we generally never forget it... I stain a lot of things but I do tea stain not Coffee.. but the genral affect is the same... I've gotten to the point tht anything with red in it gets stained alone...and I let my tea cool down first..
Another little secret is to never wring it let it drip. If you want areas with darker stain marks scrunch up your fabric when you take it out of the stain. Everywhere there is a scrunch there will generally be more of a stained color.
I like your pillow you did a good job. Camera Flash always seems to take away the stained look on white fabric..
Blessings
Tonya
Hi chelle! I love this little piece it is so cute! May I ask you a question though Did you use instant coffee? If you don't care let me know...I think I can save you a step.
Tonya: Thank you so much for the tips. I did notice that with scrunching the plain piece of fabric that I got beautiful results. I will definitely do that from now on.
Geesha: I didn't use instant, just what was left over in the pot after my morning brew; regular old Maxwell House. :)
Michelle, thanks for your interest in my giveaway.
After you soak your fabric in good strong coffee, use instant to sprinkle in just certain areas, or take your filter out of the pot and set it in an area. This will give you darker areas of stain. never rinse. do not twist hard to remove excess coffee, rather scrunch and squeeze. don't smooth out the fabric,and try drying in a warm oven, watching carefully not to burn. I have found these to be successful helpers. But, truthfully, I love the little pillow just as it is. Looks natural to me!
★Linda★
I have become a follower.
BTW~My name is Linda.
★Linda★
Wow, thank you so much everyone for the tips and nice words on my stitchery.
Linda, so sorry, fixed! I added your giveaway the same time as Carol at Firecracker Kid and I have to admit I'm not feeling 100% today. Note to self: don't do blog updates when in brain fog!
I love your stitchery! We all have to start somewhere and every day is a learning experience of some sorts! I coffee stain mine with instant coffe, vanilla and cinnamon . You can also mist on with spray bottle or brush on with small paint brush to get desired areas and shades! Works for me but to each it's own . Great Blog! Best of luck to you!
lil raggedy angie
Great tips from Linda from Parker's Paradise, that is how I stain my fabric, also use vanilla and cinnamon then bake in a 200 degree oven. The cinnamon will float on top of the coffee mix and then will grab onto your fabric giving it a dirty look. You can rub some off when dry if it appears too dirty. "Love the Smell"...
Prim Blessings
Connie
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