In this project, I opted for solid colors to dye the fabric with tea to make a neutral wreath. However, you can apply the same instructions using fun fabrics for a pop of color and omitting the dyeing step.
Step 1: Cut one-inch strips of fabric
You can begin by tearing the fabric into long strips approximately 1″ wide. Cutting the fabric with a rotary cutter will also work. I prefer the raw edges you get from tearing a piece of fabric versus cutting it.
Step 2: Make a batch of tea
Boil water, add the tea bags, and let the tea steep for a few minutes.
Different types of tea will give you different colors of dye. I went for basic, neutral tones and found that good old Lipton tea gave me the color I was looking for. I used my tea to make iced tea and then used the bags again to dye the fabric. You can try different kinds of tea for different color results to make your beautiful wreath extra special!
Tea is rich in tannins, which bond well with natural fibers, so it doesn’t require a mordant (a substance used to bind the dye to the fabric).
Step 3: Dye the fabric
Place a small portion of the fabric strip into the tea bath and allow it to absorb the tea until it achieves the desired color. The longer the fabric remains in the bath, the darker it will become.
Remember that the fabric may appear slightly lighter after drying, so consider this when determining the duration for keeping your fabric in the dye. I dyed multiple batches of fabric strips for various neutral tones, varying the duration for each.
Step 4: Drying the fabric
After reaching your desired color, remove the fabric strips from the dye carefully. Exercise caution, as the tea might still be hot. I think you should use tongs and a strainer for this step. After that, please take the fabric strips outdoors to dry. I hung mine over a gate to dry under the sunlight.
Step 5: Cut the fabric for your rag wreath
Once the fabric is completely dry, cut the fabric strips into pieces that are 6 inches long. I separated mine into colors so I could alternate them as I was adding them to my wire wreath frame.
(Here you can see the color variations I got by using two different colors of muslin, white and ivory, and dying the strips in different batches)
Step 6: Tie your fabric strips onto the wire wreath
You should start with the inner wires of the frame.
Take one 6″ fabric strip, fold it in half, and place the loop end of the fabric under the wire and up. Now, you can place the two ends of the same fabric strip (over the wire) through the loop and pull tight.
This is a great way to adhere the strip to the wire frame well.
(Of course, you could use several tying methods, such as a double knot on each piece of fabric, but this takes longer.)
You can continue this process, alternating the fabric colors as you go along.
Repeat this process around the entire wreath and fill in any empty spaces.
Step 7. Trim any necessary pieces of fabric if needed
Yield: 1 Rag Wreath
How To Make a DIY Rag Wreath
Discover the joy of crafting with our easy DIY rag wreath tutorial! You will create a charming heart-shaped wreath using tea-dyed fabric.
Materials
- Cotton Muslin Fabric- Purchase 1.5 yards of fabric in both white and ivory. Alternatively, consider using white fat quarters. You can purchase both at Hobby Lobby or the local fabric store. You may even have scrap fabric in your craft room that you can use.
- Lipton Tea Bags – I used the Extra-Large size Lipton tea bags they sell for Iced Tea.
- Heart-Shaped Wire Wreath Form (you can find these at the Dollar Tree)
Tools
- Containers for dying and storing fabric strips
- Tongs
- Strainer
- Regular scissors
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Rotary cutter (optional)
Instructions
- Cut 1" strips of fabric- You can begin by tearing the fabric into long strips approximately 1" wide. Cutting the fabric with a rotary cutter will also work. I prefer the raw edges you get from tearing a piece of fabric versus cutting it.
- Make a batch of tea- Boil water, add the tea bags, and let the tea steep for a few minutes. Different types of tea will give you different colors of dye. I went for basic, neutral tones and found that good old Lipton tea gave me the color I was looking for. I used my tea to make iced tea and then used the bags again to dye the fabric. You can try different kinds of tea for different color results to make your beautiful wreath extra special!
- Dye your fabric. Place a small portion of the fabric strip into the tea bath and allow it to absorb the tea until it achieves the desired color. The longer the fabric remains in the bath, the darker it will become. Remember that the fabric may appear slightly lighter after drying, so consider this when determining the duration for keeping your fabric in the dye. I dyed multiple batches of fabric strips for various neutral tones, varying the duration for each.
- Dry your fabric. After reaching your desired color, remove the fabric strips from the dye carefully. Exercise caution, as the tea might still be hot. You should use tongs and a strainer for this step. After that, please take the fabric strips outdoors to dry. I hung mine over a gate to dry under the sunlight.
- Once the fabric is completely dry, cut the fabric strips into pieces that are 6 inches long. I separated mine into colors to alternate them as I added them to my wire wreath frame.
- Attach your strips of fabric to the heart-shaped wire frame. You should start with the inner wires of the frame. Take one 6" fabric strip, fold it in half, and place the loop end of the fabric under the wire and up. Now, you can place the two ends of the same fabric strip (over the wire) through the loop and pull tight. This is a great way to adhere the strip to the wire frame well. (Of course, you could use several tying methods, such as a double knot on each piece of fabric, but this takes longer.) You can continue this process, alternating the fabric colors as you go along.Repeat this process around the entire wreath and fill in any empty spaces.
7. Trim any necessary pieces of fabric if needed
Hang your wreath and Enjoy!
For the final step, find a perfect spot to hang your Valentine’s Day Wreath, and enjoy!
