How to Stain Fabric With Coffee and Cinnamon

Give fabric an antique look with a coffee and cinnamon stain.

Staining fabric with coffee and cinnamon will give your craft projects a vintage look. The technique works best on natural fabrics like muslin, lace or cotton crochet. You can also paint or dab the coffee and cinnamon mixture onto paper, canvas or parchment to create a textured, grungy appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Large cooking pot
• 4 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups instant coffee
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 yard cotton or muslin fabric

Instructions

1. Pour 4 cups water into a large pot and bring to a boil. Add 1 1/2 cups instant coffee and 1 tbsp. cinnamon. Stir the solution. Turn off the heat.

2. Submerge the fabric completely in the coffee and cinnamon solution and let it soak for at least 20 minutes. The longer the fabric soaks in the solution, the deeper the color will become. Keep in mind, the fabric will dry lighter than it appears while soaking in the solution.

3. Remove the fabric from the pot and gently squeeze any excess coffee and cinnamon solution back into the pot before hanging to dry. In case the fabric drips while it dries, do not hang it over carpet or other fabric surfaces. Don't throw the solution away. When the fabric dries, assess the color. If you want it darker, dunk the fabric back into the solution and let it soak for another hour, or until it reaches the desired shade.

Tips & Warnings

• The stain will need to set before you can wash the fabric. Mix a solution of 2 cups vinegar, 1 cup water and 1 tbsp. salt. Immerse the fabric in this solution for 15 minutes and then place in a clothes dryer on a high setting.

• To add a textured look, tie-dye the fabric by tying sections with string.

• If you want a distressed look, rub fabric with sandpaper.

References

• Sew Fun Patterns: How to Antique Fabric
• Primitive Beginnings: How to Age Fabric with Tea Staining

Resources

• October Country: Grunging, Aging, Staining Recipes