and pour two cups of rich, dark black coffee. Then close up the washing machine. and let it finish its rinsing cycle. After it's done, take other clothing and hang dry.
Brew a large pot of coffee or mix a pitcher of instant coffee. Stronger coffee or a darker roast will produce darker dye. The amount of time you leave your fabric in the coffee will also affect the color, but the strength and roast really make a difference.
Using Salt in the Wash
Add half a cup of salt to your washing machine without using detergent. This simple laundry tip helps remove detergent residue that can dull colors. Salt aids in restoring faded clothes during the wash cycle by loosening fibers and reviving fabric colors.
Best way to get black fabric naturally, start with black wool. Yes oak galls and iron mordant will get you close, but it's more of a charcoal. Walnut is a dark chocolate. Both and an iron mordant will get you very close. Alum will reverse that and lighten the colors to smokey grey and caramel.
If you're intent on darkening your dye, then a good way to do it is to add something that rusts. Spencer notes that she'll sometimes add steel wood nails to darken her colors, or even create iron-based natural dyes by adding nails to equal parts vinegar and water.
Dissolve 20% Rich Purple Logwood extract in hot water and add to a dye pot with enough warm water so the fibers move easily. Add the fiber and heat to about 160F (71C) rotating the fabric. The fabric should look “oily black” in the dye pot. Hold for 1 hour.
Darken Colours: add deep rich dyes like charcoal grey, black, dark brown or navy blue to make existing dyes deeper. The darkest dye available in the colour family will increase the intensity (example: use navy blue dye to make midnight blue deeper).
Wet fabric and place item(s) in the washing machine. Set water temperature to the hottest possible setting and a wash cycle of at least 30 minutes or longer. The longer the item is in the dye, the darker the color will be. Wearing rubber gloves, mix powder or well-shaken liquid dye with 4 cups of very hot water.
To help keep your black clothes and black jeans dark, wash your garments inside out in cold water on a delicate cycle. Be sure to use a low heat setting in the dryer or air dry to help prevent fading. Remember to always check the care tag on your clothing for proper washing and care instructions.
You can use scraps from the produce aisle, including fruit peels and vegetable skins, or backyard finds like flower petals and acorns, for eco-friendly, inexpensive dye alternatives.
Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the jeans and bring it to a boil. Mix in black dye per the dye's instructions, then add salt to help set the dye. Place the jeans in the dye and stir for at least 30 minutes to saturate the denim. Rinse the jeans in warm water until the water runs clear.
Iris roots can be used to make a natural black dye. Place the fabric you want to die in a pot with 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. Simmer the mixture for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Then, run it under cool water in the sink for 1 to 2 minutes, just to remove some of the vinegar.
Use cold water and without detergent. As the washer starts to fill with water, throw the black coffee over your clothes. Now let the rinse cycle complete. Once it's finished, begin a delicate wash cycle with cold water and detergent.
Add 1 teaspoon of dish detergent to help promote level dyeing. If using powder dye, dissolve thoroughly in 2 cups of very hot water. Pour dissolved powder dye or well-shaken liquid dye into dyebath and mix well. Test color by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath.
Use a laundry detergent specifically designed for washing dark clothes. These detergents are formulated to maintain color vibrancy and prevent fading. Avoid using too much detergent, as this can leave residues on dark fabrics, making them look dull.
Mix 1 cup of salt with 16 cups of water (or ½ cup of salt with 8 cups of water), and bring to a boil. Simmer your fabric in this solution for one hour prior to dyeing. (If you are making a plant- or veggie-based dye, mix 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water and follow the same process.)
ChroMorphous is similar to traditional fabric; it can be cut, sewn, washed, and ironed. What makes ChroMorphous unique is that the color-changing properties are controlled on demand. When ChroMorphous is incorporated into a product, each thread can be activated, resulting in a variety of different colors and patterns.
Once I thought I had enough ink on the fabric, I scrunched it with the goal of making the color somewhat even. Once I was happy with the color, I took it out of the bag, let it dry, and ironed it. That's all there is to it. If you're looking for a fast way to color you fabric, try ink!