How to Darken Linen
Linen is one of the oldest woven fabrics – the Egyptians shrouded Ramses II's body in it. As a material, it is known for its strength and sheen, ranging in color from tan to gray. If you would like to darken linen, there are two options. You can simply soak it in a tannin mixture, or use a tannin mixture followed by an alum solution and a dye bath. Whichever method you choose, the new color will freshen your fabric.
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Tannin
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Tannin mordant is a simple solution that darkens your linen and prepares the fibers to bind with the alum mordant, should you decide to also dye it. Mordants help dye adhere to fabric. Traditional mordants have included urine, wood ash and manure, but you will use be using a more conventional mixture. Dissolve between ½ and 1-1/2 ounces of tannic acid in 4 gallons of hot water. The greater the quantity of tannin you use, the darker your linen will be. Use a nonreactive pot such as enamel or stainless steel -- a 5-gallon size is good for darkening up to a pound of fabric. Allow the solution to cool to room temperature, add your linen and soak it for up to 24 hours, stirring occasionally and checking the color. Rinse thoroughly in cool water and allow it to dry.
Alum Mordant
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If the tannin did not darken the linen to your liking, you can also dye it. Start by soaking it in an alum mordant, which helps the fibers bond with the dye. To create enough for one pound of fabric, add 4 ounces of alum (a little less than ½ cup) and 1 ounce of cream of tartar (about 2 tablespoons) to 2 cups of boiling water. You typically find alum in the spice section of your grocery store. Pour this mixture into 4 gallons of warm water, add your linen and let it soak for 24 hours. Remove the linen and thoroughly rinse it in cool water.
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Natural Dyes
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Commonly found plant stuffs produce dyes that work beautifully on mordanted linen. To make a rose-tan colored dye, cover ½ pound of black tea leaves in water and boil them for 15 minutes. Six quarts of green walnut hulls soaked overnight in water and boiled for two hours produces a golden-brown dye. If you prefer burnt orange, boil 3 gallons of yellow onion skins for 30 minutes in enough water to cover. Place the shells, tea leaves or onion skins in cheesecloth before adding them to the water so they can be easily removed.
Dye Bath
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You are ready to dye your linen. This process is more of an art than a science, but the longer you leave your fabric in the solution, the darker it will get. Add the bag of dye stuff and the water it steeped in to your pot, and cover it with enough water to make a 4-gallon solution. Heat the mixture until it is warm, but not so hot that it will shrink the linen. Add the wet, mordanted linen to this warm dye bath and stir it occasionally to ensure the dye reaches all areas of the fabric. Check the color after an hour to see if it is dark enough. You can leave your fabric in the cool water of the dye bath overnight if needed to reach the desired darkness. Remove the fabric, wash it with a mild soap, rinse well and hang to dry.
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References
- Sewanee, The University of the South: Natural Dyes and Mordants
- The Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing Book; Rachel Brown
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
