How to Coffee or Tea Stain Your American Duchess Silk Shoes

Miss Sharon asked me the other night about tea staining her silk Georgiana 18th century shoes.  She was reluctant to do it, so I embarked on that journey on her behalf, and learned some very important and cool things you all ought to know.  Ready?

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How to Tea Stain Your Georgianas – recommended for very light ivory/cream colors only

What You Will Need:

• A pair of Georgianas silk 18th century shoes (from me, American Duchess)
• A helluva lot of tea bags – black tea
• Water
• A paint brush
• Soft cloths
• Scotch Guard

1. In 1/2 cup of cold water or less, let your tea bags brew.  Use a LOT of tea bags.  The more concentrated your tea dye is, the darker your shoes will come out.

2. Paint the tea onto your dry shoes.  Continue to apply until the whole shoe is covered.  Blot with the soft cloth as you go.  Remember that the color will be lighter when dry.

3. As the shoes begin to dry, you will see what we call “Dye Creep.”  This is a common occurrence with three dimensional items, such as shoes.  Dye Creep shows up as lines and “bloom” where the dye has gathered, and happens with most at-home dye methods, including RIT and iDye.  Here’s how to best it:

“Chase the Dye”
As the shoe dries, rub it with a damp soft cloth.  Really rub it, too, go ahead, rub all over.  You are dispersing the dye and redistributing it evenly across the shoe.  Rub on that shoe until the color is uniform again.  You can dip your cloth in the dye itself and rub, applying more color over the entire shoe.  You may need to chase the dye several times while the shoe is drying.

4. Once the shoes are completely dry, and you have achieved the color you want, spray them with Scotch Guard.

How to Coffee Stain Your Georgianas – recommended for darker ivory, gold, and brown colors

What You Will Need:

• A pair of Georgianas silk 18th century shoes (from me, American Duchess)
• Instant Coffee Granules
• Water
• A paint brush
• Soft cloths
• Scotch Guard

1. Mix the instant coffee in water – use a more concentrated solution (less water + lots of instant coffee) for stronger color.

2. Brush the coffee onto your dry Georgiana shoes, building up the layers until you’ve achieved the color you want.  Blot with a soft cloth as you go.

3. Once again you will see “Dye Creep” and will need to “Chase the Dye.”  Here’s how:

“Chase the Dye”
As the shoe dries, rub it with a damp soft cloth.  Really rub it, too, go ahead, rub all over.  You are dispersing the dye and redistributing it evenly across the shoe.  Rub on that shoe until the color is uniform again.  You can dip your cloth in the dye itself and rub, applying more color over the entire shoe.  You may need to chase the dye several times while the shoe is drying.

*I found with coffee, that rubbing the shoe with a cloth dipped in the coffee solution worked best and kept the color strong.

4. Once the shoes are completely dry, and you have achieved the color you want, spray them with Scotch Guard.

Lessons Learned | Do’s and Don’ts:

• “Dye Creep” happens with almost all at-home dye kits, and can be fixed by “chasing the dye.”  This *must* be done while the shoes are drying, *not* after they’ve already dried.
• DO NOT soak the shoes in very hot or boiling water.  This will melt the glue on the soles and you will be sad.
• Tea staining is best for very light ivory colors; Coffee staining is best for darker tones.
• Coffee is “stickier” than tea, and will dye your shoes more effectively.  I personally recommend coffee for all colors (light ivory included) over tea.
• Your shoes will smell really good for awhile. 🙂

A coffee-stained Georgiana