I’m amazed how nature can create beautiful things, like how the berries we eat and wine we drink can transform plain fabrics into vibrant colored works of art. It’s exciting to see the lines, shapes and color variations that appear throughout linens once they are rinsed. I’m currently working on a Valentine’s get-together with the girls, and have had naturally dyed linens on my to do list for awhile. With Pantone’s Marsala color as the inspiration, I decided to make some ombre napkins with linen I had saved.
I could have used berries or beets, as they produce a distinguishable pink color, but I opted to use wine for a deeper purple/red hue. I used Merlot, as that’s what I had on hand, but it would be fun to experiment with different types of wines and see what different colors they would make.
Store bought napkins would have been just as lovely, as there are plenty of beautiful brands, but I wanted a natural ombre affect. Plus, with one of my goals this year to find beauty in the old, I wanted to use and transform something I already had lying around. I wanted these linens to have a slightly rustic and romantic feel to them, and you only get that from dying them yourself. It does take some time to create these napkins, but they’re well worth the effort, not to mention they cost me absolutely nothing. This technique would work really well with linen napkins you already have that may stained over time, perfect way to cover up to pesky spots. 
Natural dyes are not all the same and when soaked overnight they take on their own pattern and color. These naturally dyed linen napkins are actually really fun, easy and will make for one charming table setting, no matter the occasion!
You’ll Need
- Neutral Linen Fabric {for 8 – 11″L X 8 1/2″H napkins you’ll need about 64″L X 11″W of fabric}
- Wine, of choice, about 2 cups or enough to fill about 2 inches in a small sauce pot  {different types of wine will produce different shades of colors}
- Small Saucepan
- Bowls {use ones that don’t stain, like clear glass or stainless steel}
- Scissors
- Fabric tape measure
In a small sauce pot, bring the wine to a quick boil. Turn the heat off, and carefully dip the linen, about 1 inch, into the pot. To create the ombre effect, I found that the steam, after a boil, naturally dragged the color upward, creating the ombre affect and a lighter color. Slowly lift the linen upward, leaving about 1/2 inch in the wine. Soak for 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully lift the linen upward again, leaving just an 1/8 inch of the end in the wine, soaking for another 2 minutes, or longer if you want a darker edge.
With warm, or slightly cooler wine, you get a more solid and deeper/darker color.
Allow your napkins dry overnight. I placed mine over the edge of disposable baking pans, but you can easily hang them over bowls or bucket. 
If you want solid colored napkins, place the linens into the pot. Let them soak in the warm wine for about 15 minutes. Place the linens into a bowl to store overnight. For a deeper color, pour the wine and linens into a bowl, store overnight, or as long as the desired shade is attained.
Hand rinse the linens under cool water, and tumble dry on low, iron if needed. Since there are no chemicals in this natural dying method, it’s best to wash your linens by hand and not in the washing machine.
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