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FAQs For Fabric Coloring
Fabric Painting/Coloring
Do you have some basic information for beginners? Here you go!
- (see Instructions for using Inktense pencils below.)
- Cotton thread will only absorb so much color at one time. If you notice that you continue to apply color but it doesn’t deepen, let the first layer dry then go back over it with a second coat to deepen and intensify your color.
- Although you can wash your painted work; most metallic or glitter paint used will wash off in the wash (although Jacquard Lumiere metallic paints seem to be washable). If your work is to be used as a table runner or other type of heavy use; spray it with Scotchguard to protect the paint finish.
- Color your lightest areas first then graduate to dark. Start working in the center and work out if possible.
- Sometimes it pays to plan ahead – color a paper version first before jumping in. It is very hard to correct a mistake. It also helps to create a chip chart on a paper version to remember what color is used on your project.
- Continually stir your paints if mixed with textile medium to keep it from drying out and blended. Use a drop or two of water to thin but NO MORE THAN TWO DROPS! Too much water can cause bleeding. You may want to mix your paints in the Dixie cups provided as they can be saved for a short while using the lid. However, the paints will eventually dry so use them within a couple of days after mixing.
- Do not use water as a medium nor any kind of alcohol based product. Both cause bleeding. By the way, Sharpie pens have an alcohol base – do not use for outlining.
- A word about Textile Mediums: There is a variety out there – some are better than others. I make my own concoction that allows for little bleeding and is a recipe from Pro Chemicals and Dye. It leaves a soft feel and goes on smoothly. Liquitex is ok but can get really thick after sitting for a while. Use a couple of drops of water to thin it out. You can also use Aloe Vera gel as a fabric medium, especially when using Inktense or other colored pencils. It is very inexpensive and does a good job blending colors.
- Paint Brushes: the cheaper the better! Usually acrylic/Taklon/Nylon brushes work well with fabric as long as it is a stiff brush. Watercolor brushes are too soft.
- Finally – there is no right or wrong way to use paints and art supplies to embellish and decorate fabric. ENJOY!!!!!
What kind of coloring tools do you use?
All kinds! Here is a list of the various products I use in coloring fabric. Note which product needs fabric medium and which does not. PLEASE ASSUME THAT ALL PRODUCTS NEED TO BE HEAT SET!
Inktense Pencils and Blocks (Needs fabric medium):
Regular coloring pencils (Needs fabric medium):
Fabric markers (Do not need fabric medium):
Watercolors (Needs fabric medium):
Fabric paint (Does not need fabric medium except as a thinner):
What are some good websites for purchasing supplies?
If you are interested in finding coloring and art supplies check out these websites for additional resources: Pro Chemical & Dye: http://prochemicalanddye.net . This company has it all when it comes to fabric paint and anything to do with coloring fabric (including all sorts of dyes). Their products are wonderful and many, many textile artists use their paints and dyes exclusively. They have a wonderful reference/how to section for painting and coloring fabrics. I use their products to create my own fabric medium. Jerry’s Artarama: http://www.jerrysartarama.com One of the best for art supplies – Jacquard fabric paints and textile mediums; brushes; Derwent Inktense pencils and so much more… Dick Blick Art Materials: www.dickblick.com. Another great source of art supplies. I research both Jerry’s and Dick’s to see who has the best sale on Inktense pencils. Source for Primary Elements pigments and Twinkling H2O watercolors: www.colourarte.com This website carries a variety of paints and Primary Element pigments that can be used for painting on not only cotton fabric but silk as well. Dharma Trading Co.: www.dharmatrading.com This website is very focused on fabric painting and dyeing. They have just about any product out there for coloring fabric.
Of course, just about anything can be found on Amazon these days... and most of the time the prices are competitive.
Michael's and Hobby Lobby have some supplies but their prices tend to be a bit on the high side. IMHO!
What books or other videos would you recommend for learning how to fabric paint?
Most of the techniques that I use are from three award winning quilters who use painting techniques in their quilts. The list below is by no means complete but if you would like to see some beautiful works of quilt art, these ladies have it in spades! All three have awesome websites with plenty of free videos and other information that you can apply to your own creations! Linda M. Poole: www.lindampoole.com Linda is another textile artist out there and one of the best teachers I have ever had the pleasure to meet! When I started to write the instructions for this class I realized she had already written the best book for quilt painting – “Painted Applique – A New Approach”. You cannot go wrong by purchasing this book if you want to learn how to use painting techniques that look like applique! Irena Bluhm: www.irenabluhmcreations.com Irena’s quilts are spectacular! If you go to her website she has plenty of eye candy to look at as well as YouTube videos that explain her painting technique that primarily uses colored pencils and fabric medium. Her book “Quilts of a Different Color” is an awesome tool for quilt painting. Helen Godden is an award winning Australian quilter who paints most of her quilts. Her techniques are quite unique as she is one of the few fabric painters that use water! Check out her wonderful live painting sessions on Facebook or go to her website www.helengodden.com for additional information! Finally, if you are interested in using your embroidery machine to do outline quilt patterns, check out Leah Day. She uses her sitdown for both free motion quilting and her embroidery machine for quilting quilt as you go. She has created a series of embroidery patterns called Stitch N’Paint that are specifically designed to be painted once you have stitched them out. You can find her at www.leahday.com along with tons of helpful videos.
Using Inktense Pencils on Fabric
Most of the classes I teach involve using Inktense Pencils and fabric medium. The techniques described below can also be applied to regular colored pencils as well. Be aware that the color in Inktense pencils is much more vivid than colored pencils so if you use colored pencils you may have to color the fabric more heavily.
Derwent Inktense pencils are solidified ink in the lead and when activated with fabric medium permanently color the fabric. (Although permanent, the color needs to be set with an iron to make the ink colorfast. See notes below on washing.)
You will want to put your fabric on a solid surface such as freezer paper, glossy poster board, and foam core. You can also use a heavy poster board instead of foam core – just be aware that the color can smear underneath on any paper product.
Freezer paper: Can be ironed onto the back of your artwork and will act as a barrier to prevent leaking color from behind.
Foam core: Another option is to use a piece of foam core shaped for the item. Spray a temporary fixative on the foam core and attach the fabric/artwork to the sprayed foam core or use painter’s tape to hold it down.
Other Tools: There are a few other tools you will need when you start applying color.
- Brushes – I like using #2 – #4 round and flat Taklon brushes to apply medium to the color. Cheaper is usually better! Don’t use watercolor brushes as they are too soft.
- Paper towel – Always keep some sheets of paper towel around to dab off excess medium before activating the Inktense color. Less medium is better.
- Paint palettes to hold the medium and mix colors. I use paper plates and Dixie cups for mixing.
Coloring with Derwent Inktense Pencils
· Inktense pencils can be used like colored pencils, but their color becomes very vivid when activated with fabric medium. But since they are inks, the colors are permanent once dry. Because the color dries permanently, Inktense allows for over washing or color layering on top of the previous color. However, unlike watercolor, Derwent Inktense color cannot be rewet in order to mix color later on. If you intend to mix or blend the colors while working with them, it needs to be done before the area you are working in dries.
· Suggestion: I make color swatch samples on muslin in order to keep track of what each color looks like on fabric. Draw a rectangle with permanent ink for each Inktense color and label each one. Color each rectangle with the colors of Inktense pencils chosen. Leave half of the colored rectangle dry and activate the other half with fabric medium, so there you have a sample of how each pencil looks dry and activated.
Use of mediums: In order to get the brilliant colors from an Inktense pencil, you must use a wet medium to activate it. Water is not a good medium for activation on fabric as it bleeds into the fabric very easily. You must use textile medium to prevent bleeding.
Textile medium – A word about Textile Mediums: There is a variety out there – some are better than others. I make my own blend from ProChem’s online recipe that allows for little bleeding. It leaves a soft feel and goes on smoothly. Liquitex is ok but can get really thick after sitting for a while. Use a couple of drops of water to thin it out. You can also use Clear Aloe Vera gel. You need one that is 100% Aloe Vera and colorless. It is brushed on and acts as a wet medium to activate the color. You must, however, be careful to use it sparingly also. If you have puddles of it, when it dries, it can flake off with the color.
All mediums should be heat set. The Aloe Vera gel should be washed out after it is heat set. The acrylic textile medium will, depending on how viscous the medium is, slightly change the hand of the fabric. I tend to use the fabric medium as I can control the color blending a bit more dependably.
Inktense Pencils Coloring Methods (There are videos on my website that go in to more detail on the following methods. You can find the videos at www.medinadomarts.com or on YouTube.com under Medina Domestic Arts Studio - (1393) Medina Domestic Arts Studio - YouTube )
Dry on Dry Method.- Using the Inktense pencils similarly to coloring with a colored pencil. Start coloring lightly making sure not to press too hard which leaves harsh streak marks. After coloring, brush the fabric medium lightly over the colored areas working from light to dark. If there are distinct colors wash your brush out in between colors so as not to mix them on your fabric. If the color is too light you can go over the wet area with the pencil again to deep the color. Note that the Inktense color looks very different when it is applied dry as compared to when it has been activated with a wet medium. Use your fabric sample colored earlier to give you a better idea of what the color will look like with the fabric medium.
Wet on Dry Method – A very intense color can be created by wetting the medium prior to applying to dry fabric.
- Wet a brush with the medium of choice and rub it along the tip of the pencil and then apply to dry fabric. This method allows you to see what the color Is going to be right away and the color is usually very strong.
- The pencil itself can also be dipped into the medium and applied directly onto the fabric. Again, the color will be very strong. You can blend the color down with additional medium.
- Both of the wet on dry methods will leave a coating of medium on the lead. Use a paper towel to wipe the tip of the pencil clean. If the medium dries on the pencil sharpen it to remove medium.
Wet/Dry on Wet – one can also wet the fabric prior to applying either dry or wet color with a brush and then apply the color with a brush into the medium, allowing for nice blends.