By Colleen Walsh Fong

Day 10 of 10 Days of Tea

When you’re in the mood for a blast from the past why not consider making yourself a garment that looks like it just stepped out of a sepia photograph? One of the best ways to give light-colored cloth an antique look is to soak it in tea. A good rule of thumb for making a chemical-free antiquing dye is to use a 3 tea-bag to 2 cups of water ratio. Be sure to make enough liquid to cover the fabric or garment you’ve chosen to dye. And don’t forget to let the liquid cool before placing the item into it to ensure it doesn’t shrink.

Once you’ve started the dying process monitor it regularly to get the shade you’re shooting for. The longer you leave the fabric in the tea mixture, the darker it will be.

Home-dying or antiquing a fabric may be the least expensive way to score a new fashion look.

For other ways to save time and money by using the contents of your kitchen cabinets and fridge, check out the Easy Weekly Meals series of smart cookbooks. 

And if you’re just joining our series take a look at the other posts in The 10 Days of Tea for National Hot Tea Month.

Image courtesy of sumetho/FreeDigitalPhotos.net